About this Book

This collection of essays is not just about the existence of difference in medieval France, but about the variety of ways that difference could create solidarity and sympathy among groups, as well as disaffection and disgust. Essays address inclusion and exclusion from a variety of perspectives, ranging from ethnic and linguistic difference in Charlemagne's court, to lewd sculpture in Bearn, to prostitution and destitution in Paris. Arranged thematically, the sections progress from the discussion of tolerance and intolerance, through the clearly defined notion of foreignness, to the complex study of stranger identity in the medieval period. As a whole the volume presents a fresh, intriguing perspective on questions of exclusion and belonging in the medieval world and will interest medievalists across disciplines.