Royal Books and Holy Bones: Essays in Medieval Christianity

Description

In 1992, Eamon Duffy created a sensation in Reformation studies by publishing his groundbreaking book "The Stripping of the Altars." In it he demonstrated the health of late medieval religion in England and that the thesis hitherto accepted that the Reformation came to wipe away a corrupt and rotten Church was essentially false. In this book follow-up to "The Stripping of the Altars," Duffy makes further soundings in late medieval religion, but drills down to the particular and avoids any wide historical sweep. Among the topics he covers are "Purgatory," "The Black Death," "Adoration of the Mother of God," and "Heresy." By his meticulous research, Duffy has discovered many original documents and records during his academic career, proving that his thesis about the Reformation is basically irrefutable. This book is illustrated by a small collection of full color plates which further demonstrate the richness of late medieval religion. List of illustrations Introduction: Royal Books and Holy Bones BOOKS 1. Early Christian Impresarios 2. Books Held by Kings 3. The Golden Legend 4. Secret Knowledge – or a Hoax? 5. The Psalms and Lay Piety CRISES AND MOVEMENTS 6. Plague and Historical Memory 7. The Rise of Sacred Song 8. Holy Terror 9. The Cradle Will Rock: Histories of Childhood SAINTS 10. Blood Libel: The Murder of William of Norwich 11. Sacred Bones and Blood 12. Treasures of Heaven: Saints and their Relics 13. St. Erkenwald 14. The Cult of "St." Henry VI 15. The Dynamics of Pilgrimage in the Late Middle Ages 16. "Lady, Pray Thy Son for Me": Prayer to the Virgin in the Late Middle Ages ON THE EVE OF THE REFORMATION 17. Provision Against Purgatory: Wingfield College, Suffolk 18. Monasticism and the Religion of the People: Crowland Abbey 19. The Four Latin Doctors in the Late Middle Ages 20. The Reformation and the Alabastermen 21. Brush for Hire: Lucas Cranach the Elder Acknowledgements Notes Index A Note on the Author Plate Section