Privacy and Solitude: The Medieval Discovery of Personal Space

Description

Most people in the middle ages shared communal living space and lived most of their lives publicly in the midst of other people. Slowly, however, the wealthy began to build parts of their houses that were private and where private activities, such as reading, could be enjoyed. This was a new development and differed from the solitude of the hermit and the silence of the monk. Diana Webb traces what this meant for men and women growing sense of individuality in this highly original book.

Diana Webb was Senior Lecturer in History at Kings College London, UK. Her previous books include Patrons and Defenders: the Saints in the Italian City States (1996); Pilgrims and Pilgrimage in Medieval Europe (1999); Pilgrimage in Medieval England (2000); Medieval European Pilgrimage (2002); and Saints and Cities in Medieval Italy (2006).

"This work supplements the monumental efforts of the contributors to the second volume of A History of Private Life (ed. Georges Duby, 1988), especially because of its concern with English society, and lays a foundation for history of how medieval people actually experienced solitude and privacy. Summing up: Highly recommended. Graduate students/faculty." -J. Harrie, CHOICE, April 2008, Vol. 45, No. 8 -- J. Harrie "a hugely enriching and insightful exploration of the medieval world." Reviewed by Silvia Evangelisti in Times Higher Eduction Supplement, 2008 'There is far more to this book than even its wide stands may suggest. Scholars of many disciplines will find much for enquiring minds to mull over and develop. The need for privacy for thought and for solitude, to refresh personally and religiously, is abundantly present in us all...Readers of all backgrounds will find much pleasure and reward in this original and stimulating survey.' Brenda Bolton, Church Times (Same review also appeared in Baptist Times.) * Church Times * 'Webb has hit upon an intrifuiing subject: the rise of the middle-classes and their craving for privacy, rejecting the communal living and public lives so prevalent in the Middle Ages.' Publishing News, 7 July 2006 * Publishing News * "Diana Webb... explores the consequences for Christians seeking the desert, from the earliest times to the high Middle Ages, and a fascinating tale she makes of it, closely informed by scores of contemporary accounts and told with an engaging clarity and judgement. It is an impressive book." Christopher Howse, Tablet, 07/07.07 -- Christopher Howse * Tablet, The *