A Short Reader of Medieval Saints (Readings in Medieval Civilizations and Cultures) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1442600942 ISBN 13: 9781442600942

Publisher: University of Toronto Press, 2008

Synopsis

This short reader includes selections from Stouck's longer volume, Medieval Saints: A Reader, along with new material. It is designed to briefly introduce students to many of the most famous and representative saints of the age, and can be used to supplement other texts in a more general medieval history course.

About this title

About the Author:

Mary-Ann Stouck is a retired Associate Professor of Humanities at Simon Fraser University. She is the editor of Medieval Saints: A Reader (University of Toronto Press, 1999) and the author of a variety of essays and studies on saints' lives and Middle English literature.

Review:

Mary-Ann Stouck's A Short Reader of Medieval Saints stands apart in offering an abbreviated but judicious selection of saints' lives perfectly suited as a brief introduction. The author's choices represent not only the classic texts of male sanctity: Anthony the hermit, Benedict the monastic leader, and Francis the charismatic preacher but also include the stories of the female saints that have so inspired modern readers: Perpetua the virgin martyr, Radegund the defiant queen, Mary of Egypt the penitent prostitute, and Catherine of Siena the mystic bride of Christ. For the most part presented in their entirety, the texts range from accounts of torture and trials, to descriptions of virtues and visions, to letters in the saint's own words. Excerpts from the Golden Legend present tales from a best-seller of the Middle Ages, while other selections convey a vivid picture of cult practices ranging from relic theft to pilgrimage. In sum, the book fills a particular need with an elegant sufficiency. (Cynthia J. Hahn, Hunter College and the Graduate Center-CUNY)

An original and wise choice of extracts illustrating the wide array of hagiographical sources and styles. This collection of translated medieval saints' lives is an ideal manual for students eager to explore the Middle Ages. (Isabelle Cochelin, University of Toronto)

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Toronto Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1442600942
• ISBN 13: 9781442600942
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 191
• Editor: Stouck Mary-Ann