The Holy Blood

'... a fascinating exploration of the many faceted cult of Passion relics in the Middle Ages.' Church Times '... an exceptionally learned and wide-angled book.' English Historical Review '... a fascinating detective story ... a dazzling display of learning ... Vincent's book is a brilliant, penetrating, and important study of the history of the theology and sentiment of medieval eucharistic relics - and of some remarkable incidents in thirteenth-century political history besides.' Christopher N. L. Brooke '... extremely successful book.' Journal of Ecclesiastical History 'Nicholas Vincent presents an intellectual and geographical tour de force in this study of the sample of Christ's blood, presented to King Henry III by the patriarch of Jerusalem in 1247 ... Professor Vincent raises a number of important issues. He points to the significance which developments on the European mainland have for our understanding of medieval English history ... Professor Vincent presents a detailed analysis of the role played by sacral objects in medieval English politics and society, and thereby opens up a significant new area of research, an area, moreover, which so far has been largely ignored by historians of Britain during the High Middle Ages. In doing so, he successfully adopts and elaborates on a methodology, first pioneered by Marxist historians like Carlo Ginzburg. The end result is a complex, but immensely readable, exploration of politics, symbolism, religion and culture in England and Europe during the High Middle Ages and beyond.' Welsh History Review '... this book is a solid work of scholarship, which makes a real contribution to appreciations of late medieval devotion. ... This is a book of considerable interest, and impressive scholarship. Vincent has plundered a staggering range of material, reflected in detailed and extensive footnoting. At first the narrow title and somewhat esoteric focus might suggest that this is a book of limited appeal. Far from it: it certainly deserves to be read, and is highly readable. Interesting and enjoyable, it makes important contributions to understanding the Christocentric emphasis in the late medieval catholic devotion ... a valuable and stimulating statement.' Heythrop Journal