A autora é chauvinista, aristocrata, conservadora, clerical, reaccionária e racista mais do QB. Defende a Idade Média com demasiada paixão para poder sobre ela incidir qualquer luz. ( )

KR-2

excellent ( )

A fascinating and informative book. Some of the early chapters were not quite what I expected. The one on the supposed 'Clumsiness and Awkwardness' was mostly about architecture, and the following on literature, which would not seem to be suggested by the title.
Also, as the book was originally written in French as is translated, some of the grammar and word syntax is a little dubious- though this does improve.

The later chapters, especially those on women and the controversial issue of religious inquisitions, I found far more informative and useful. Debunking some myths, and establishing such ideas in the context of the beliefs of the times
Many of the practices for which the Middle Ages are condemned, such as slavery, actually developed as a response to the re-introduction of Roman Law in the early Renaissance and Post Renaissance period. The obsession with all things classical actually did more harm than good.

On the contrary, the growth of Christianity resulting in the development of rules on free consent in marriage, and the outlawing of slavery in many European slaves. Serfdom, it is argued- was not slavery- as slaves in the Roman Empire were not free to marry, or indeed own land- whereas this was theoretically possible for Medieval purposes. Indeed, it is further asserted nobles were as much 'tied to the land' as serfs.

Some of the later chapters on methodology and the theoretical aspects history were of particular interest and relevance to me.
Altogether, a good book challenging a lot of generalizations about this period, and recommended for any who wish to develop a more well-rounded view of the time, removed from Hollywood and popular myth. ( )

Sometimes the writing style can get a little laborious (not an uncommon problem with a translation), but this is an excellent essay on how the "Middle Ages" are misunderstood in the modern world. It's a little disturbing how little has changed in the 30 years since Pernoud wrote this. She makes an impassioned call for the significance of the Middle Ages, and does an amazing job of understanding the period in its own terms, and showing how the misconceptions we have about the Middle Ages are a product of modern ways of thinking. ( )