This is a valuable and fascinating collection of essays that explores the cultural, social, linguistic, and political contexts of medieval anger. Its principal values lie first in its successful challenge to the ahistorical, evolutionary constructs of Elias, and second, in the models it presents for further investigation of the history of emotions in medieval or in any other society. I ... Read moreexpect that this will be a watershed volume, much read by students and scholars not only in medieval studies but in a wide spectrum of disciplines.
Patrick Geary, University of California, Los Angeles The collection of articles assembled in this book is yet another proof for the vibrancy and progressiveness of medieval studies at large... The authors demonstrate the excellent results of interdisciplinary research employing both traditional philological research skills as well as insights from anthropology, sociology, and Mentalites-geschite.... This excellent volume demonstrates that medieval society was neither primitive nor ideal, as it experienced many forms of anger, but often knew very well how to deal with it, as anger assumed an important ritual function for the aristocracy.
Albrecht Classen, Arthuriana
Arthuriana
Overall, this work fills a large lacuna because... the history of anger has not yet been written.... This work will be a welcome addition to research and graduate libraries.
History
As this collection shows, the history of the emotions is a promising field which should yield riches for researchers, outside as well as in America, in the years to come.
Sarah Hamilton, University of Exeter Show Less