King and Emperor von Janet L. Nelson
A New Life of Charlemagne

Kategorie: Bücher
Seiten / Format: 704 S
Erscheinungsjahr: 2020
Verlag: Penguin Books UKPenguin
Sprache: Englisch
ISBN: 9780241305256

Nelson assembles an astonishingly rich picture from the most unrewarding of texts. The way she puzzles out probable facts and motivations is a joy to witness ... The narrative voice emerges as that of a patient, inquisitive, incisive and helpful master detective, with funny asides, a beautiful style and sensible politics. Bettina Bildhauer Times Literary Supplement

ADAILY TELEGRAPHANDBBC HISTORY MAGAZINEBOOK OF THE YEAR 2019<br><br>'A remarkable book: the dramatic story of a truly extraordinary man ... brilliant'Helen Castor, author ofShe-Wolves<br><br>A major new biography of one of the most extraordinary of all rulers, and the father of present-day Europe<br><br>Charles, King of the Franks, is one of the most remarkable figures ever to rule a European super-state. That is why he is so often called'Charles the Great': by the French'Charlemagne', and by the Germans'Karl der Grosse'. His strength of character was felt to be remarkable from early in his long reign. Warfare and accident, vermin and weather have destroyed much of the evidence for his rule in the twelve centuries since his death, but a remarkable amount still survives.<br><br>Janet L. Nelson's wonderful new book brings together everything we know about Charlemagne and sifts through the evidence to come as close as we can to understanding the man and his motives. Nelson has an extraordinary knowledge of the sources and much of the book is a sort of detective story, prying into and interpreting fascinating material and often obdurate scraps, from prayerbooks to skeletons, gossip to artwork.<br><br>Above all, Charles'legacy lies in his deeds and their continuing resonance, as he shaped duchies and counties, rebuilt and founded towns and monasteries, and consciously set himself up not just as King of the Franks, but as the new'Emperor governing the Roman Empire'. His successors - in some ways to the present day - have struggled to interpret, misinterpret, copy or subvert Charlemagne's legacy. Nelson gets us as close as we can ever hope to come to the real figure, as understood in his own time.

GBJanet L. NelsonDBEis Professor Emeritus of Medieval History at King's College London, where she taught for many years. She has written and translated widely on early medieval Europe, her books includingCharles the Bald(1992),The Frankish World(1996)andCourts, Elites, and Gendered Power in the Early Middle Ages(2007).She lives in London.

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