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The Devil's Historians: How Modern Extremists Abuse the Medieval Past

Amy S. Kaufman (Goodreads Author),

Paul B. Sturtevant (Goodreads Author)

4.22 · Rating details · 68 ratings · 12 reviews

Amy S. Kaufman and Paul B. Sturtevant examine the many ways in which the medieval past has been manipulated to promote discrimination, oppression, and murder. Tracing the fetish for "medieval times" behind toxic ideologies like nationalism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, misogyny, and white supremacy, Kaufman and Sturtevant show us how the Middle Ages have been twisted for po ...more

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Hardcover, 208 pages

Published July 9th 2020 by University of Toronto Press (first published May 28th 2020)

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Sep 10, 2021 Millie Yule rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Very disappointing book. I only gave it two stars because the bit about Christian extremists in American was vaguely interesting. Besides the total focus on America and the poor writing style, my main problem with this book was that the authors presented theories as facts. There was very little footnoting at all (probs 1 footnote per double page) which made me very dubious of their ideas. No studies were cited and academic books were mentioned briefly as a way to say “look there are diverse hist Very disappointing book. I only gave it two stars because the bit about Christian extremists in American was vaguely interesting. Besides the total focus on America and the poor writing style, my main problem with this book was that the authors presented theories as facts. There was very little footnoting at all (probs 1 footnote per double page) which made me very dubious of their ideas. No studies were cited and academic books were mentioned briefly as a way to say “look there are diverse historians talking about diverse topics” - no reference was made to the content of their work. It was also hilarious that the epilogue of the book was like “there are so many versions of the Middle Ages to learn about in places other than Europe such as India and China” when it didn’t discuss them at all.
There was a lot of cart-before-the-horse thinking where the authors pulled up right-wing extremists (and it was very notable they only talked about the right wing) and then made tangential connections to why they are obsessed with the Middle Ages. Whilst this was, to my knowledge, justified in the discussion of the KKK, it seemed that the authors were pulling at straws when discussing any extremist groups around the world (e.g. they claimed the that EDL toting the St George‘s flag was proof of them being obsessed with the Medieval when it’s literally just the English flag).
The chapter on the status of women especially (that ironically mainly discusses men for all its wokeness) makes sweeping and questionable statements. My favourites include “many women were polymaths” and “the portrayal of gritty, filthy, brutal masculinity and passive, victimised femininity in the Middle Ages is a modern fantasy”. Neither of these statements are debated despite the latter literally being the core debate at the centre of much academic feminist discussion. The former statement is a prime example of how the book only discusses noble women. It was such a painful chapter to read.
Finally, despite the book’s title, there is was no substantial discussion of how actual academics theorise the Middle Ages and how this is influenced by their own biases. I thought that was what the book was about! Very disappointing it was just a whistle-stop tour through the white supremacists and Muslim extremist groups through the west instead of discussion of how HISTORICAL THEORY influences them.
All in all it was very much like reading a Tumblr post where the poster wanted to convince their followers that the Middle Ages was actually rad and cool and a golden age of equality despite the fact it really wasn’t. ...more

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Jun 26, 2020 Jennifer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, middle-ages

I cannot recommend this book enough. It is a fantastic guide into the concept behind the abuse of history to serve the ends of extremest groups. However, the book is greater than that and takes into consideration several other ways in which the Middle Ages are appropriated to serve a narrative.

It also mentioned the Society for Creative Anachronism along with several pop culture elements.

Again, cannot recommend this read more.

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Feb 02, 2021 Wendy rated it it was amazing

A timely must-read.
Excellent book that brings to light the false narratives about the Middle Ages that we've all learned since childhood, and highlights how history is abused and why. ...more

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Sep 16, 2021 Niġel Klemencic-Puglisevich rated it liked it

A well-intentioned book on the weaponisation of the Middle Ages by the far-right. While many of the points raised were indeed correct and needed, the way in which they were done weren't ideal.

Firstly, I'm not certain the book will fulfill its call-to-action as its audience is already aware of, and likely endorses, its thesis. Preaching to the choir feels good, but it will only get you so far.

Secondly, in many cases, the authors fall into the trap they caution against. They glamourise the Middl ...more

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Oct 25, 2020 Steven Batty rated it it was amazing

An absolute must read book. It really is quite shocking how the medieval past is twisted in the modern age. From middle-eastern terrorist groups to white Christian American God Botherer's. Sadly the bullshit they peddle is lapped up by not only the gullible but educated alike. ...more

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Jul 12, 2020 Marc rated it it was amazing

Excellent and digestible. This book opened my eyes to the role that medieval history is playing in modern extremist movements and how different it is from the much more complicated history. Well written.

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Jan 19, 2021 Sophie Wieland rated it really liked it

While not a particularly cheery book, this is a timely, just-sarcastic-enough, and well written book. The epilogue (which theoretically presents positive modern uses of medieval history) could have been longer and more developed, but I suppose the title did warn us that the book was about extremism.

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Feb 14, 2021 Maryam rated it it was amazing

By far one of the best and most insightful reads I've finished this year! From ISIS to the Far-Right, Amy Kaufman and Paul B. Strutevant create a compelling analysis regarding how extremists manipulate and fetishize the medieval past in order to reinforce extremist views and ideologies which never existed in the Middle Ages. In truth, this period was far from an oppressive landscape filled with constantly patriarchal barbarians and war hungry peoples. The Devil's Historians is a book which reeks ...more

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Mar 31, 2021 Eddie rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: politics-and-history, sexuality-and-gender

This was a terrible bore. I applaud the book’s efforts in exposing much of the bullshit around us, but the book was annoying to read. Go to a party where there is a lot of knowledgeable people chatting, cocktails in hand. One person constantly butts in and corrects everyone else. I know, this is a book built around how we are mistaken about what we think we know about the past. But damn.

the author’s political views permeate every page of the book. This isn’t a book of history correction, as it ...more

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Jul 24, 2021 Nathalie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction, read-in-2021

4.5 stars. Definitely recommend! Super interesting and important. I only wish it would have been a bit longer and more in depth with certain topics, especially when it comes to the medieval source material. However, as it is, very easy approach to the issue, should be taught in schools, to be honest.

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Jul 28, 2020 Emy marked it as purchase-considering · review of another edition

28 July 2020: Had the fortune to join a fascinating lecture/discussion from the authors, hosted by the University of Leeds. They're both very accessible and able persons who are writing about this subject from a place of love, from the inside. ...more

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Nov 02, 2020 Jeff rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: history

I'm going to start by saying that the following review is UNFAIR. It is unfair because this excellent essay met with my probably over-demanding expectations.

This is an excellent refutation of all those who both romanticize the Medieval period while at the same time misrepresenting it in order to support their political, social or religious beliefs. The author knows her history and supports her assertions with sources. She effectively refutes all those who base their ideology on a monolithic and ...more

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