By Rose Williams
Illustrated by William Overton

Description

The Early Middle Ages of Western Europe, from AD 400 to 1000, was a boiling cauldron which bubbled over and impacted every corner of the world. Organized both by chronology and by geography, this lively book, with its tongue firmly planted in its cheek, dives fearlessly into that confused and confusing period, tracing the history of each century, beginning in North Africa and then proceeding around the Mediterranean Sea to Spain, Britain, France,Germany and the Low Countries, ending in Italy.

This whole period is usually considered to be the by-product of Rome’s decline; most Europeans and many North Africans were still calling themselves Romans while obliterating the Roman legacy on their turbulent journey toward the High Middle Ages and the Renaissance. This book, ironic though it may be, is meticulously researched, including extensive notes and quotes from contemporaries.

Chronicling the idiocies and occasional heroism of the energetic and star-crossed people who had the misfortune to live in these fractious eras and heralding the survival skills of those who actually made it through, The Lighter Side of the Dark Ages is an illuminating journey through a fascinating period of history.

Author Bio

Rose Williams is a veteran Latin instructor at the high school and university level. Rose Williams holds a BA from Baylor University and an MA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She did postgraduate work in Latin and the Humanities at the University of Dallas and the University of Texas at Austin. On a Rockefeller Grant she conducted research at the Bodleian Library of Oxford University, England and at the University of Pisa, Italy. She is the author of numerous classics textbooks and teaching guides as well as humorous books of Latin phrases. She serves on various classics consultant boards and maintains a website, www.roserwilliams.com, devoted to Latin teaching materials.

Comments and Reviews

Once again, Rose Williams has written a clarifying book about a complex period of history. Her touches of humor entertain the reader while giving an overview of the Middle Ages in a concise manner.

— Robert L. Reid
Professor of History, retired
Baylor University, Texas

In her earlier works, Rose Williams proved to be a superb scholar and a delightful observer of the human condition. She has that rare gift to help us understand ancient cultures…the Middle Ages has rarely had it so well!

— Robert Holladay
English Department
McMurry University