A Short History of the Middle Ages, Volume I: From c.300 to c.1150, Third Edition
Non-medievalist and habitual scorner of textbooks, I have used, enjoyed, and appreciated this book in earlier editions. It is clear, thoughtful, deeply expert, and refreshingly ecumenical. The maps and charts are good and useful, and the illustrations gorgeous, splendidly legible, well captioned, and put to thorough use. The real, rare treasure, though, is the lovely English, at once limpid and graciously respectful of student intelligence.(Thomas V. Cohen, York University)