Bishop Gregory of Tours
500s
A History of the Franks
The early medieval history, 'In 10 Books', of how the Roman province of Gaul became the Kingdom of the Franks. After summarizing the history of the world from the creation through the flood and the rest of the Biblical account, Bishop Gregory recounts the modern events of the 6th Century. The world of the Nibelungenleid and Beowulf was one of widespread superstition- as well as Christian piety. The kingdom of the Devil was real- Hell was real and people were going there. And this makes the book lively, all in the words of a scholarly bishop in France, 1,500 years ago.
France
Latin
Traditional Muslim
600s
The Koran
The Koran (Qu'ran) is the holy text of Islam. Here are the revelations that Muslims believe the Prophet Mohammad had in a cave outside of Mecca in Arabia. For modern Americans interested in what is really written in the Koran about issues like terrorism against infidels, the social status of women, slavery, the will of Allah and the freewill of human beings, will find in the Koran the source of the real information to get a better perspective. One of the most famous and popular books in the world, a billion Muslims take the teachings contained in this book as the guide to life, as Christians do the Bible.
Arabia
Arabic
The Venerable Bede
700s
A History of the English People
A journey into early Medieval England, not long after King Arthur's time, written by a pious monk named Bede who surivived a terrible plague and spent an astounding life of learning and reconcilliation in a Monestary. He had access to the rarest (many one of a kind) books in an abbey library, and distills all of them in his old age, in this book. It is a book of kings, priests, and medieval life in general. He earned much respect and the title 'The Venerable.' He invented our chronological notation (BC /AD). Mixed with Roman Britannia and the Anglo-Saxon invasions, are accounts of the holy relics and the miracles they produced.
England
Latin
Traditional Scandinavian / English
700s
Beowulf
This is the oldest book in a 'modern' European language, as opposed to Greek and Latin. It is an epic poem full of the heroes and monsters of the feudal imagination. Its astounding beauty and artistic style have kept the book popular for over a thousand years. Beowulf battles against the offspring of Cain born in Hell and come to Earth 'Little Nicky style' as a demon- but unlike Little Nicky, is really out to destroy us. Though an epic poem, it reads like a short story more than a poem.
England
Old English
Traditional Arabian
800s
1001 Arabian Nights
A collection of stories from the height of Islamic civilization, the Thousand and One Arabian Nights is full of fantasy, adventure, fun, danger and magic. Here we find the famous stories of Ali Baba, Alladin (the original- which was the basis for the Disney movie), and Sinbad. The book opens with the lovely Scheherazade telling a-story-a-night to her 'kind of out of it' sultan husband who had killed each of his wives at the end of their wedding night. Scheherazade is different though, she is an accomplished storyteller- and satiates the Sultan with 1001 nights of stories before her life is spared! Moral lesson and insights into Islamic culture are an added benefit to these stories.
Arabia
Arabic
Traditional French
800s
Song of Roland
The battle in this story took place in the late 700s when Saracens (Muslims) attacked Charlemagne's rearguard army of Christian French soldiers- under the command of Roland. Charlemagne would later take revenge on the attackers. While the events in the epic are true, the tone and character of this book (the first in the French language) make it one of the most valuable medieval source documents in the world. Early medieval chivalry, feudalism and courtship are depicted here as well as the keynote struggle of Christian vs. Muslim near the Pyranees Mountains between France and Spain. Here also we see the real Charlemagne, the most famous name of early Medieval times.
France
French
Murasaki Shikibu
1000s
The Tale of the Genji
A tale of court life in old Japan. Genji is the prince involved with princely things: love affairs, political changes, family circumstances and tough choices. The novel presents a grand view of Japanese life and culture, and in Japan is considered the national epic story. The author is revered- she is thought to be an inspired writer. Her focus in the novel also, is that nothing lasts forever. It is a multi-generational novel, going through three generations of Genji's dynasty. Many people in fact consider it the world's first 'novel.'
Japan
Japanese
Traditional Spanish
1100s
El Cid
Epic Poem. This first book in Spanish language contains what today's readers would find to be the most rank stereotypes, but what for the Spain of 900 years ago, was perfectly normal. Conniving Muslims (who conquered Spain in the early 700s), moneylending Jews, foolish French administrators of Barcelona (a feudal holding of a French Count at the time) and gallant Spanish Christian knights. Its a story about justice and humor, glorious battle and ultimate victory for the side of right.
Spain
Spanish
Traditional Jewish
1100s
The Kabbalah
The Kabbala is a Jewish work comprising the Zohar as its central book. It has more mystery associated with it than perhaps any other book in the last thousand years. Rabbis may meditate on the Kabbalah and find a new course in life- regular people may try to meditate on it as well, to see if the name of God will be revealed to them, or if God has something in store for them. The Kabbala has become a new popular book in Hollywood, where some movie stars are newly interested in spiritual meditation and fulfillment. Of knowing the answers to life. This book was written by Jews in diaspora. Do it right: read the book at night by candlelight.
Spain /
North Africa
Hebrew
Maimonidies
1100s
For the Confused
Moses Maimonidies is a towering figure in Jewish scholarship for his masterpiece, sometimes translated as 'For the Perplexed.' He tells us not to use positive attributes to describe God because God is infinitly beyond the realm (and the need) for humans to tell Him what and 'how' He is. He dismissed the Islamic scholarship of the time showing that the 'new religion' it has not studied enough of the original Jewish roots... finally he tells of the perfect way to worship God, the nature of evil and Biblical prophecy. Remember, this book is meant to help people understand the complexities of true Judaism.
North Africa
Hebrew
Traditional West European
1100s
The Quest for the Holy Grail
The real quest for the Holy Grail, the cup that Jesus of Nazareth drank from during the Last Supper, occurred during the time of King Arthur: four knights including Sir Lancelot are on the quest, and the spiritual side of medieval life is shown here. To approach Christ, one must have grace and be ready to be repentant. To approach the cup of Christ, one must have the moral clarity to understand the true fullness of Christian teaching and love. Some say that this book is so valuable, that the reader by reading it approaches the Holy Grail herself!
West Europe
English
French
Pierre Abelard
1100s
Letters and History
Like the later Romeo and Juliet and Cyrano d'Bergerac, this is one love stories that has stood the test of time. Abelard is a teacher in love with his student, who returns this love. Her name is Heloise and she becomes pregnant because, "So intense were the fires of lust that bound me to you that I set those wretched, obscene pleasures which we blush even to name above God as above myself." Aha. Well, easy to say, right? But then there is a public scandal and the two must separate. What happens? Abalard becomes a monk and Heloise retreats to an Abbey. Yet their love knew no bounds and the letters they sent each other for their entire lives, far from being some base writing, instead shows us the heights of what love really is at its most profound- and also shows us in our 'lust-on-the-run' age that eternal love IS possible and even, one of life's most precious (and rare) surprises.
France
Latin
Saint Thomas Aquinas
1200s
Summa Theologica
Probably the greatest medieval philosopher and greatest Catholic teacher who ever walked since Jesus, St. Thomas wrote, alone, a magesterial work of Catholic life and values. He was the most powerful mind of his time, and turned it on understanding the mind of God. He had access to the best library in the world, in Paris, and here digested all the most complex and mentally tiring books imaginable, processing them and finally emerging after many years with the Summa Theologica, 'Summation of Theology' that contains the most precise elements of all aspects of Christian life. He tells us the nature of God, reconciles Aristotle and Plato with the Bible, and discusses angels, the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of the devil. He tells us WHY mankind is responsible for his own actions, and ends with a fantastic explanation of the co-eternal holy trinity, the three parts of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The secret of life? God wants mankind to learn about nature, himself, and grow. Much like what a parent wants for their children. Amen.
Italy
Latin
Traditional German
1200s
Nibelungenlied
The legendary Germanic story from the Middle Ages, this book is the basis for many modern adaptations: The Lord of the Rings being one of them. Its a murder story as well as a moral tale, with the main character, Seigfried the knight, making a deal with King Gunter: if he wins the beautiful princess Brunhild for Gunter, Gunter will give him his royal sister Kriemhild as a wife. He wins but is murdered by Hagan, a vassal of the King. Kriemhild now exacts revenge upon the killers. Courtly behaviors and feudal style blood vendettas are presented here. Magic rings, an invisible cloak and other items are used. At the end, a surprise! Who is the real hero?
Germany
German
Marco Polo
1200s
The Travels of Marco Polo
The electrifying adventure story of world travel, Marco Polo makes the astounding trip from Italy to the Orient. He crosses the Gobi Desert, walks along the Silk Road through Muslim territory, and finally arrives in China after an epic journey. Europe and China had very little contact, only through Muslim traders did the two know about each other. Now, two great civilizations met through Marco Polo. All in all, he describes the travels through modern: Turkey, Iraq, Iran, India, Tibet, Mongolia and finally the end of the world: China itself. They met the Great Khan of the Tartars and many other important figures, had many adventures and exchanged cultural information which sparked the imaginations of Europeans for centuries, during their travel over a total of 33 years.
Italy
Latin
Dante Aligheri
1200s
The Divine Comedy
Up in the top ten of the all time greatest books, The Divine Comedy spans three epic poems: The Inferno (hell), The Purgatorio (purgatory) and The Paradiso (heaven). The work documents Dante's visits to these places, and he tells us what he sees there. He meets Virgil, Roman writer of the Aeneid, and Beatrice, an old love who is now dead. Like when scrooge is wisked away to different places by the Ghosts of Christmas, Dante is shown all of these places and describes the tortures of hell, and in a hilarious twist: finds a lot of his enemies on Earth there! Most of his friends likewise, are in Purgatorio or Paradiso. The worst layers of Hell are the below the better ones. So, murderers are in the depths but homosexuals, suicides, moneylenders and such are in the first layers. In all, this great work is great because it gives hope to the hopeless, eventual finding of places of joy and peace, and finally: the story itself tells the tale of how Dante became lost in the 'Wood of Error,' having lost his way in the forest. The journey is a symbolic rite for him to get his life in perspective and back on the right track through this adventure- from the depths of dispair to the glory of hope and eternal life.
Italy
Latin
Geoffery Chaucer
1300s
The Canterbury Tales
At the end of the 1300s, some travelers in England are going to make a pilgrimage to Canterbury, where the grave of St. Thomas Becket, a beloved archbishop that was murdered in the late 1100s, is. This funny group entertains itself with stories 'tales' along the tough path across the country (remember, no pavement yet!)- and the result is the great book, 'The Canterbury Tales.' It is a grand tour of the values and morals, wit and fun of the people of late Medieval England. Here we have the famous 'Knights Tale' and many other interesting adventure stories, some comic, some poignant, all intensly human. Also, regular people are featured- remember that most medieval stories were about the noblility- here it is the commoner that finds some time in print!
England
English
Jean Froissart
1300s
Chronicles
The leading historian of the late Middle Ages, Chronicles delivers a facinating panorama of an amazing age. Froissart writes from a French perspective, and takes us from castle to castle, cathedral to cathedral and from the court of the French King to first hand descriptions of jousting tournaments, battles (The 100 Years War was going on against England) and great parties and feasts of the nobility. On the left we see Froissart presenting his finished book to his feudal Count. All in all, this is one of the most famous history books ever written, with the focus on France and England, but even though the subjects are limited to these countries, the detail in the book is exciting. The reader feels like she is visiting Western Europe seven hundred years ago and is witnessing the famous events and people of the time.
France
Latin
