The Portable Medieval Reader (Portable Library)

I like this collections of medieval writings. My old copy had yellowed and I wanted a new one. My only disappointment is that it seems to be an exact reprint of the old book, but enlarged. The enlargement shows. I would have liked it better if they had reprinted the book rather than simply enlarging it, but I still will enjoy the old writings from the 11th thru 15th centuries.

I was introduced to the Middle Ages in college. I revisited the period a couple years ago reading Henry Adams’ Mont St. Michel and Chartres. One needs a ‘toe-hold’ in the Middle Ages, and his book was exactly that for me. The plan of the book takes different aspect of the period: life, literature, theology etc. and offers different writers within a three hundred year period. Most of the entries are short and often surprising. The editors’ intro is also good anthropology for the times. It’s not for everybody. But if you’re one of those who resonate with Medieval Times, it’s a great book/companion. 😉

The book is a 700 page anthology of writings from about 1000-1500 CE. The anthology is well translated, and easy to read from a style and content perspective. The book contains writings from such noted authors as Abelard, Francis of Assisi, Pius II, Aquinas, Nicholas of Cusa, Chaucer and many other major authors of the time, as well as a dozen or more others that this reader had never heard of.The anthology gives a perspective into the Medieval literature - especially it's religious domination and the role of the Church and the clerics in the development of literature and culture during that period. Unfortunately, with so many great works to choose from, the editors chose some pretty obscure elements from Aquinas, Chaucer, et al to convey the flavor of the literature. Not present that I would have expected were excerpts from the Summa or the Canterbury Tales, for instance. Instead,we are graced with a single Chaucer poem, and a relatively obscure Thomasine text.If your interest is in period literature, and getting an "off the beaten path" introduction to some of the period works, the anthology fits the order well. If you are looking for elements or introductions to signature period texts like the Summa Theologica, Canterbury Tales, or others please look for the originals - for you will not find them here.

This is not fiction. It's a group of readings of Medieval authors about various topics, such as: the clergy, the nobles, the peasants, protests, and the world. An extensive review of the times in Northern Europe by those who lived in them.

I've always been a fan of this installment of the Viking Portable Library. The scope of the texts available is wide, and its organization, logically separated into sections on artistry, the nobility, the clergy, the common lay, etc. I have several copies - all will remain on my shelf for quite some time. - WJM

This collection of primary source documents is a nice little handy desk reference. Should one be writing a paper on medieval feudalism or the 14th century crisis, it's nice to have a quick access to some primary sources on hand. I especially enjoyed it and keep it close by.

If you are looking for a Medieval Reader for you class, look further than this one. It is 40 years out of date and typically present England as the culmination of the era. I regret choosing this for my class and will never use it again. There are are no introductions to the various authors and excerpts.

I had to read it for an english class.

Where can I start...? With William of Malmesbury credited with quoting the future Pope Pius II as wanting to dedicate himself to "...Cod." With the "Chromological Table"... the study of something "Phalosophical"... that the person in charge of an abbey is an "abbat"- this twice in two pages- and I've hardly read more than a chapter. That's before we even get to the bibliography. There the errors are as many as three, four, or five to a page.This is completely unacceptable even in a cheap knocked together sort of thing, but for 13.99UK from Penguin it is outrageous! They will be hearing from me.I am so angry! It is disgraceful!!! I have bought several of the Delphi compilations of Chekhov, Turgeniev and so forth, which have been as cheap as chips and they haven't anything like the number of typos, nowhere near. God! Or should I say Cod?

very beauty

A very good selection

fair