The Cistercian world: monastic writings of the twelfth century (review)

156 Reviews Matarasso, Pauline, ed. & trans., The Cistercian world: monastic writings of the twelfth century, Harmondsworth, Penguin, 1993; paper; pp. xxi, 319; R.R.P. AUS$13.95. This Penguin Classic provides an anthology of writings of various Cistercian authors of the twelfth century. Famous figures, such as Bernard of Clairvaux, William of St Thierry and Aehed of Rievaulx, share space with the less well known Guerric of Igny, Isaac of Stella, Gilbert of Hoyland, John of Ford, and A d a m of Perseigne. It is pleasing to see in translation such historically valuable texts as the Admonition of Stephen Harding and the Exordium Parvum, describing the early history of the Order. Unfortunately, not all the texts are translated in their entirety. Only individual chapters are translated of such important hagiographical writing as the Vita prima of Bernard of Clairvaux. The passages chosen single out 'attractive virtues' of the abbot of Clairvaux rather than the full picture of Bernard's political allegiances or strict asceticism. Fascinating episodes in the Vita prima about the influence of his mother and his rejection of feminine temptation are not translated. Although Bernard's life and writings perhaps deserve a whole volume, the anthology still serves to introduce something of his intensely personal reflections on love and the experience of spiritual enlightenment. William of St Thierry is another author who warrants rather fuller presentation than the three meditations presented here. The best of these writings focus with great intensity on the emotions and personal experience. Perhaps the most appealing is Aehed of Rievaulx, the great theorist of friendship. The passages chosen from Walter Daniel's Life of Aelred, as weU as Aehed's On spiritual friendship and The mirror of charity may provoke readers to seek out fuller translations of these twelfthcentury classics. Musicologists m a y not know of the biting commentary on contemporary musical practice in The mirror of charity. The Cistercian writings should not be dismissed simply as manifestations of an otherworldly piety. Not alltextsare equally interesting. John of Ford's Life of Wulfric of Haselbury introduces a figure probably known only to a handful of specialists. It seems a shame that the life of a relatively minor anchorite should be given twice the amount of space as the Vita prima, a collection of lives of a personality of much greater importance to the period. Any anthology such as this is bound to attract complaints from specialists that i t does not contain all their favourite texts. Nonetheless, this volume's Reviews 157 achievement is to bring these writings to the attention of a wider audience that would not automatically have access to volumes in the Cistercian Fathers series. Something is better than nothing. Matarasso's translation is fresh and idiomatic, avoiding the stodginess that can beset 'pious'texts.Her rendition of the anonymous Description of the abbey of Clairvaux fully recaptures the naturalistic elegance of this masterpiece of twelfth-century prose. The text also happens to teach us a lot about the sophistication of irrigation at the abbey. This inexpensive volume provides a valuable addition to the growing number of Penguin Classics from the medieval period. Constant J. M e w s Department of History Monash University. Mayer, Hans E., Kings and lords in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem (Collected studies series, 437), Aldershot, Variorum, 1994; cloth; pp. x, 338; R.R.P. £52.50. This is the third volume of the collected studies of Hans Mayer to appear in the Variorum Collected Studies Series, the two previous ones being: Kreuzztige und lateinischer Orient and Probleme des lateinischen KOnigreichs Jerusalem (both 1983). This latest collection of Mayer's articles comprises eighteen studies in German, English, and French published between 1982 and 1991. Professor Mayer of Kiel University is amongst the most prominent scholars of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in the world. His output is prolific and it would be impossible to do more than to list the various studies here if each were to be mentioned. Therefore, comment has been limited to selected articles. Mayer's work is always full of surprises. If it has a particular characteristic, it is that he is a master of ferretting away at primary...