The Age of the Cloister: The Story of Monastic Life in the Middle Ages

by Christopher Nugent Lawrence Brooke

A meticulously researched look at the birth and flowering of monastic life and its impact on seekers today. †

Genres: History, Religion, Nonfiction, Church History, Spirituality, Christianity, Medieval

Paperback

First published November 1, 2002

About the author

Christopher Nugent Lawrence Brooke CBE FBA FSA was a British medieval historian.

From 1974 to 1994 he was Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Cambridge. He was married to fellow medievalist, Rosalind B. Brooke.

Brooke was the son of medieval historian Zachary Nugent Brooke (1 December 1883 – 7 October 1946).

Reviews

[Ed Parke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am surprised at the negative reviews below. Brooke's work is an accessible yet far-reaching exploration of mediaeval monastic life, which importantly addresses national variation, social context, and broader currents in the Universal Church. The work is neither fastidious to the point of dryness nor so general as to shy away from accounts of lived monastic reality, as recounted through key historical sources. Most importantly, Brooke pays due attention to the spiritual essence and foundations of monasticism, getting to the heart of monastic life far beyond works which limit themselves (sometimes condescendingly) to architectural, historical, or sociological factors.

Brooke does not pretend to have crafted a comprehensive work: "In this book I have tried to throw a pebble into the centre of a pool of clear water. As the ripples spread we see the life of mediaeval monks and nuns spreading out into the whole history of an epoch" (p. 292). Nevertheless, the result of his efforts is a book which will no doubt entertain and solidly educate any reader with an interest in history or spirituality.

[Joel Zartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing off about this book is how liberally he's strewn floor plans of monasteries throughout. One does get a good idea of the lay of the land in monasteries.

It is a well-written book, enjoyable to read, goes fast, and full of information. If you are going to study church history you have to understand monasticism. This is a good place to get an overview along with some interaction with the state of scholarship.

[David Szatkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for both the scholar and the religious history (and middle ages history) junkie. The author focuses on how monastic life adapted to (and was changed by) various movements and ways of thinking of the times.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author gives a well-rounded overview of the rise and lasting influence of medieval monasticism in Western Europe.

[amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! As a student of history, and as an admirer of the Middle Ages, this captivated me, but I wish Brooke would have discussed more of the monastic life in the 14th & 15th centuries. As a Catholic, I wish I could go back in time and visit these monasteries and abbeys, and I hope that the religious life makes a comeback.

[Neil Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first history of Monasticism I've read, it helped me piece together the various theological, social and legislative differences between communities I have encountered and learned about and place their development in context.

Very enjoyable to read.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book may be useful for those who are intensely interested in monasticism in the Middle Ages. However, Brooke's writing style leaves much to be desired. He often puts competing or unrelated thoughts into the same sentence, creating many run-on sentences in which one loses the sense of the text. I found that no matter my best intentions, I zoned out every time I picked up this book (which I had to read for class), and after a page of reading I would find that I had not retained a single word. From the comments from the other students in the class, most people feel the same way.

[Robert Irish · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a history of monasticism from 500-1400 (or so). It is attempting to be thorough, but in the process it becomes very dry reading. It catalogues various monasteries and their chapter houses and their leadership, etc. often without getting at anything interesting that might be said about the thought, or the practices that made monasticism such a force during the middle ages. On the whole, it was very disappointing. I would not have read it at all, except that it was a text for a course.

[Cypress Butane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't great. There's got to be a better book on monastic life in the middle ages. The author is not focused enough in presentation, and the tone is wrong. The sentence-to-sentence reads strange, it's too back and forth for non-fiction writing. On the positive side it's got some maps of specific monasteries, and doesn't do that bad a job at distinguishing between the various orders.

[Lauren Hopkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at life in medieval monasteries. I especially enjoyed the writings about the Cluny Abbey in France...lots of day to day info, but the author is able to pull primary source material together and make a story out of it. Interesting and an easy read.

[Amanda Witt]

Good descriptions of the early monasteries in Europe, and the daily habits/practices of those who dwelt inside the walls.