Why read Other Middle Ages?

Book cover of Other Middle Ages: Witnesses at the Margins of Medieval Society

Book description

Seldom heard from in modern times, those on the margins of Medieval Europe have much to tell us about the society that defined them. More than just a fascinating cast of characters, the visionaries and sexual dissidents, the suicidal and psychologically unbalanced, the lepers and converts of Medieval times reveal…

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European history

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Why read it?

1 author picked Other Middle Ages as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Eleanor Janega

Author

This deep dive into the people that medieval Europe sidelined is absolutely indispensable for understanding society as a whole.

I get frustrated because when people think about the medieval period, they assume that it was a time when everyone just quietly played along with whatever the Church said, and everyone was a straight white Christian keeping quiet. This book goes and finds the people that the medieval period wanted hidden and brings them to light.

I also like that it helps us to consider that we still partake in the same othering behaviours now. It’s full of fascinating primary sources,…

From Eleanor's list on The best books for illuminating the Middle Ages.