Medieval Lives

Norman F. Cantor, award-winning author of In the Wake of the Plague and Antiquity, continues his exploration of the Middle Ages with Medieval Lives. Eight notable figures are profiled, from Helena Augusta in the fourth century to John, Duke of Bedford a thousand years later.

From St. Augustine’s embrace of Neoplatonic thought to Hildegard of Bingen’s mystic contemplations; from Eleanor of Aquitaine, who married the kings of both France and England to Humbert of Lorraine, a force behind the schism between Eastern and Western Christianity, Cantor paints a vivid portrait of these extraordinary people and the world in which they lived. Approachable and entertaining, Medieval Lives highlights the many philosophical, religious and artistic advances that took place in Europe during this remarkable era.

Norman F. Cantor (1929 - 2004) was professor emeritus of history, sociology, and comparative literature at New York University. His many books include the New York Times bestseller In the Wake of the Plague, Antiquity, The Civilization of the Middle Ages, Medieval Lives, and Inventing the Middle Ages, which was nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Award.

“Medieval Lives is a tour de force ... I simply cannot imagine a more effective or compelling introduction to medieval civilization.” — Arthur H. Williamson, Professor of History, California State University, Sacramento