John C. Moore (1) (1933–)

Pope Innocent III is one of the most consequential figures of the Middle Ages whose name is largely unknown to the general public today. Yet through his involvement with western European politics, his stance towards heresy, his advocacy for new crusades, and particularly his calling of the Fourth Lateran Council, Innocent powerfully shaped the latter half of the Middle Ages with ramifications down to the present. John C. Moore's biography is clearly written and accessible to the beginner, show more albeit with perhaps too much of a tendency to slap down lengthy primary quotes without as much analysis as I think longer quotes warrant, and to go off on side tangents. (I do not find Gerald of Wales as interesting as Moore seems to.) But a good primer for someone before they they tackle more focused works on the topic. show less

I fear this is a dull book, an in-depth study of twelfth and thirteenth century love lyrics. It was originally copyrighted in 1933.