Cities of the Flesh by Zoe Oldenbourg

Medieval Historical Novel

Title of Book: 

Author of Book: 

Historical accuracy 

Story and writing quality 

Would you use this to get someone interested in the MA? 

Why? 

Zoe Oldenbourg wrote quite a bit of historical work on the Crusades, including the Christian States in the Outremer, and about the Albigensian Crusades. She also wrote several novels, including a series about one family in 12th/13th France. Dense and rich- mostly with emotional detail.

Would this be good for younger readers? 

Explain 

Some sexual content, but mostly because the style is adult- it would be difficult for a child- or even most teenagers- to understand.

My Review 

_Cities of the Flesh_ is about a man caught in the maelstrom that is 13th century Toulouse. The struggles between the Roman Catholic Church and the Cathar heretics is long and bloody, and Roger de Montbrun is in the middle of it. And then he meets the woman he comes to call Rigeur and his world is turned upside down. It is a story of incandescent love, and exquisite pain and loss. A book I cannot forget- it will haunt you. I highly recommend it.

Would you recommend this to a friend? 

Melissa Snell, Medieval History Guide, says: