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The Autobiography of Gerald of Wales
The autobiography of Gerald of Wales, translated from the Latin, offers a compelling picture of medieval life.
Gerald of Wales, the son of a Norman Baron and the grandson of a Welsh Princess, is one of the most gifted and entertaining of medieval writers. His autobiography, translated from the Latin, presents the story of an Archdeacon who, despite his passionate efforts, never became a Bishop; it is the self-revelation of a man as able and courageous as he was vain and eccentric, and as devout and serious as he was flamboyant and humorous, a vivid picture of twelfth-century kings and prelates, of politics and travel, full of strange adventures at home and abroad, told with frankness and power, and without a counterpart in the literature of his day. Moreover, the volume presents a vivid picture of medieval life in general.
The late H. E. BUTLER was Professor of Latin at University College, London.
Gerald of Wales, the son of a Norman Baron and the grandson of a Welsh Princess, is one of the most gifted and entertaining of medieval writers. His autobiography, translated from the Latin, presents the story of an Archdeacon who, despite his passionate efforts, never became a Bishop; it is the self-revelation of a man as able and courageous as he was vain and eccentric, and as devout and serious as he was flamboyant and humorous, a vivid picture of twelfth-century kings and prelates, of politics and travel, full of strange adventures at home and abroad, told with frankness and power, and without a counterpart in the literature of his day. Moreover, the volume presents a vivid picture of medieval life in general.
The late H. E. BUTLER was Professor of Latin at University College, London.
374 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2005
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March 20, 2018
Gerald is a fascinating character. He could turn an apology into an insult and was never slow in pointing out other people's flaws. He was happy to lecture Kings and Princes, even if they didn't seem to pay much attention to him. He had a genuine gift for making enemies and a monumental ego that remained undented despite all the opposition he encountered.
All this makes this book eminently readable to anyone interested in the late 12th Century, Wales, Ireland or the Church in this period.
It's not really an autobiography in the modern sense, but a set of autobiographical fragments put together into chronological order.
All this makes this book eminently readable to anyone interested in the late 12th Century, Wales, Ireland or the Church in this period.
It's not really an autobiography in the modern sense, but a set of autobiographical fragments put together into chronological order.
Displaying 1 of 1 review