The Yellow Cross: The Story of the Last Cathars 1290-1329
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Review
"There can be fewer better guides than this beautiful book, which lets an almost forgotten people, even through the filter of time and the Inquisition, speak for themselves." --"The Washington Post Book World"
"In a feat of inspired scholarship, Weis transports us back to that world, conveying all of the high drama of ecclesiastical interrogations, covert ceremonies, and fiery martyrdom. . . . A book that will long haunt its readers."--"Booklist
"
"This book reanimates the real world of the Cathars of seven hundred years ago in a way that is fresh, utterly modern, and pulsates with life."-Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie, author of "Montaillou"
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""It succeeds enthrallingly . . . a moving evocation of an almost inconceivable faith."--"The Times" (London)
"In a feat of inspired scholarship, Weis transports us back to that world, conveying all of the high drama of ecclesiastical interrogations, covert ceremonies, and fiery martyrdom. . . . A book that will long haunt its readers."--"Booklist
"
"This book reanimates the real world of the Cathars of seven hundred years ago in a way that is fresh, utterly modern, and pulsates with life."-Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie, author of "Montaillou"
"
""It succeeds enthrallingly . . . a moving evocation of an almost inconceivable faith."--"The Times" (London)
Product Description
In the 13th century, a group of heretics in southwest France, the Cathars, became a serious threat to the Catholic church. In several waves of repression, thousands of Cathars were killed. Yet so ardent was their faith that, early in the next century, the Cathars rose one last time. Using the breathtakingly detailed and uniquely extant documentation from this period, and drawing on his intimate knowledge of the last Cathars' tracks and hiding places, many of which survive to this day, René Weis tells the full story of this gripping historical episode.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An exceptional presentation based heavily on historical records. Weis refrains from undue speculation and lets the records speak. Nevertheless, his exquistive writing helps bring the story to life. Ironically, the Inquisitions own detailed records from 1290-1329 were preserved and enabled Weis to recreate many of the activities in the village of Montaillou, France.
Cathar religion is not the focus of this history, but elements of Cathar thought and practice are unavoidably present. The pluses and minuses of being a Cathar are presented, at least for the residents of Montaillou. Despite the asceticim of Cathar spiritual leaders, the sexual promiscuity of some Cathars is not glossed over.
Sadly, in this case, the reason for the Inquistions interest in Montaillou seems to have been, not primarily their religious difference but the reluctance of people in that area to pay the Church's taxes.
I read this book in 3 days, but I took a break after every 2 chapters or so because following all the detail challenged my focus. The amount of detail Weis was able to assemble is staggering. To his credit, he kept the story flowing. I've never read history at this fine a granularity. I never before was aware what life in medieval Europe might be like.
Weis seems superhuman. How he assimilated so many facts and presented it so clearly and vividly is far beyond my understanding. A work of this quality and power seem to me very rare [Another book on Montaillou, by Ladurie, may be even more detailed, enough to perhaps be of interest only to academicians, but apparently makes a heavily pro-Church interpretation]. Even if the Cathars are not your interest, I'd recommend this book for its extraordinary presentation of life in a medieval village. I've never before felt this connected to people of the Middle Ages: I'm very impressed by them
Cathar religion is not the focus of this history, but elements of Cathar thought and practice are unavoidably present. The pluses and minuses of being a Cathar are presented, at least for the residents of Montaillou. Despite the asceticim of Cathar spiritual leaders, the sexual promiscuity of some Cathars is not glossed over.
Sadly, in this case, the reason for the Inquistions interest in Montaillou seems to have been, not primarily their religious difference but the reluctance of people in that area to pay the Church's taxes.
I read this book in 3 days, but I took a break after every 2 chapters or so because following all the detail challenged my focus. The amount of detail Weis was able to assemble is staggering. To his credit, he kept the story flowing. I've never read history at this fine a granularity. I never before was aware what life in medieval Europe might be like.
Weis seems superhuman. How he assimilated so many facts and presented it so clearly and vividly is far beyond my understanding. A work of this quality and power seem to me very rare [Another book on Montaillou, by Ladurie, may be even more detailed, enough to perhaps be of interest only to academicians, but apparently makes a heavily pro-Church interpretation]. Even if the Cathars are not your interest, I'd recommend this book for its extraordinary presentation of life in a medieval village. I've never before felt this connected to people of the Middle Ages: I'm very impressed by them
40 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a vivid and unforgettable illumination of the fate of a small community which lived, loved and died over 600 years ago. There is no fantastical speculation here - just thorough and exhaustive scholarship, and the author's own humanity, which brings these individuals fully to life. I could not have believed I could have been touched so deeply by the fate of men and women whose bones are now dust.
Much rubbish has been written about the Cathars in the past few years - read this, and discover just what an insult this is to the memory of the last "Parfaites" of Europe.
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found this book absolutely compelling. I have read it three times and continue to dip into it. It is more interesting than Emmanuel Roy Laudrie's book on the same subject. It takes a more anthropological approach as opposed to Laudrie's social, political and economic stance. Weiss's updating and locating of events is thoroughly convincing. One can smell the bread coming from the foghana. It also has a fine hero in Pierre Maury. One more noble and good than the parfaits he follows.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A rewarding journey for the patient reader
This is a highly researched and thoroughly written book on the last thirty years of the Cathars in Langedoc and the surrounding area, focused largley on the area around Montaillou. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Keen Reader
Dense but fascinating
I have to admit that after 100 pages or so I was tempted to abandon this book. If I hadn't been on an overseas trip with limited other reading material to hand I might have... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jasper Tamespeke
The Story of the Cathers - a soap opera!
An interesting book, describing the people and their history in the 13th/14th century in south west of France, in a rather unusual style of writing. Read more
Published 15 months ago by S. S. Baig
These could be your neighbours
Very impressive book that actually physically pushes you into Occitantia in the 13th/14th centuries. Read more
Published on 9 April 2007 by M. Notman
Everyday life of the last Cathars
Well here I am again less than a fortnight from my first review and book on Catharism! This one has left me in tears, absolutely! Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2006 by Catherine Murphy
Not a serious work of history
I note that the author of this book is a Professor of Literature rather than of History. He would have been better off using his talents within the fictional realm. Read more
Published on 15 May 2003 by C. Cooper
A disappointing work of a semi-biographical nature.
Having read Norman Cohn's excellent "Pursuit of The Millennium",I was expecting an historical analysis of the mediaevil sect known as the Cathars or Albigensians,their... Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2001 by mcsmall
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