{"product_id":"a-tale-of-two-monasteries-westminster-and-saint-denis-in-the-thirteenth-century-paperback","title":"A Tale of Two Monasteries: Westminster and Saint-Denis in the Thirteenth Century - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eWilliam Chester Jordan\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Tale of Two Monasteries\u003c\/i\u003e takes an unprecedented look at one of the great rivalries of the Middle Ages and offers it as a revealing lens through which to view the intertwined histories of medieval England and France. This is the first book to systematically compare Westminster Abbey and the abbey of Saint-Denis--two of the most important ecclesiastical institutions of the thirteenth century--and to do so through the lives and competing careers of the two men who ruled them, Richard de Ware of Westminster and Mathieu de Vend me of Saint-Denis. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Esteemed historian William Jordan weaves a breathtaking narrative of the social, cultural, and political history of the period. It was an age of rebellion and crusades, of artistic and architectural innovation, of unprecedented political reform, and of frustrating international diplomacy--and Richard and Mathieu, in one way or another, played important roles in all these developments. Jordan traces their rise from obscure backgrounds to the highest ranks of political authority, Abbot Richard becoming royal treasurer of England, and Abbot Mathieu twice serving as a regent of France during the crusades. By enabling us to understand the complex relationships the abbots and their rival institutions shared with each other and with the kings and social networks that supported and exploited them, \u003ci\u003eA Tale of Two Monasteries\u003c\/i\u003e paints a vivid portrait of medieval society and politics, and of the ambitious men who influenced them so profoundly.\u003ch3\u003eBack Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Historians talk about comparative history. Professor Jordan has done it: two monasteries, two abbots, two kings, two kingdoms, and the turmoil of the mid-thirteenth century. This is a boundary-crossing study of men, policy, ambition, competition, and their efforts to leave a legacy. Another Jordan triumph.\"\u003cb\u003e--Joel T. Rosenthal, distinguished professor emeritus, Stony Brook University, State University of New York\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Another classic Jordan book: wholly original in conception, thoroughly grounded in the primary sources, and written in a vigorous, inimitable style. With a keen eye for detail, Jordan has strewn his chapters with perceptive observations about the principal players and their complex relationships. This is a thought-provoking and thoroughly absorbing book. Readers will find a vivid window into the thirteenth century.\"\u003cb\u003e--Theodore Evergates, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Aristocracy in the County of Champagne, 1100-1300\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"This is an original and striking book by a leading American medievalist. It will be essential reading for all scholars in the field. Written in a clear and accessible prose, it will also reach a wider public.\"\u003cb\u003e--David Carpenter, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Struggle for Mastery: The Penguin History of Britain 1066-1284\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWilliam Chester Jordan\u003c\/b\u003e is the Dayton-Stockton Professor of History at Princeton University. His books include\u003ci\u003e Unceasing Strife, Unending Fear: Jacques de Thérines and the Freedom of the Church in the Age of the Last Capetians\u003c\/i\u003e (Princeton) and \u003ci\u003eEurope in the High Middle Ages\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 280\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.7 x 9.1 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e May 01, 2011\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51755026481440,"sku":"9780691150062","price":70.11,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/df220887bc02a1106770aa48450b4e4f.webp?v=1780048666","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/a-tale-of-two-monasteries-westminster-and-saint-denis-in-the-thirteenth-century-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}