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Medieval Pilgrims to Jerusalem in the Middle Ages. By Nicole Chareyron. Translated by W. Donald Wilson. (New York: Columbia University Press. 2005. Pp. xviii, 287. $45.00.)
For medieval Christians the pilgrimage to Jerusalem was an act of extraordinary devotion. Rich spiritual rewards awaited those who could visit the city sanctified by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yet the long, expensive, and dangerous journey from Europe to the Holy Land was itself also an act of penance. Utilizing more than fifty contemporary accounts, Nicole Chareyron opens in this book a fascinating window into the world of these pilgrims. In evocative (although occasionally over-florid) prose, Chareyron creates a composite picture of a typical pilgrimage from its hopeful departure until its uncertain conclusion. Her close familiarity with what she refers to as "our authors" makes this book both interesting...