The Dangers of Ritual: Between Early Medieval Texts and Social Scientific Theory

by Philippe Buc

Medieval historians will find this book an indispensable resource for its insights into methodological issues crucial to their discipline. As Buc demonstrates, only rigorous attention to the contexts within which authors worked can allow us to reconstruct from medieval documents how "rituals" might have functioned. Ultimately, he argues, too swift an application of contemporary models to highly complex textual artifacts blinds us to the specificities of early medieval European political culture.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval History

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2001

Reviews

[Harper Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the most important work for anyone considering serious study of ceremony – especially in medieval europe.