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>Hi, John. > >Have a couple book recommendations for you. I've done >some research in the past on the Cathars/Albigensians >(the two names are often used interchangably, which >can be a little confusing), and thought I might share >a couple of my favorite books on the subject: > >The Perfect Heresy: The Revolutionary Life and >Death of the Medieval Cathars >by Stephen O'Shea >ISBN: 0802776175 > >and also > >The Great Heresy: The History and Beliefs of the >Cathars >By Arthur Guirdham >ISBN: 0852072716 > >The former is more of a 'historical' take, focusing on >the important dates and events in the life of the >Albigensian/Cathar heresy. It also gives some really >unique character sketches of the important figures in >the rise and fall of the Cathars, from Simon de >Montfort to Innocent III. Mr. O'Shea is, >unfortunately, a little biased in his approach to the >Albigensians, tending to villify the Catholic Church >for its Inquisition (the first official inquisition, >believe it or not) and Crusade against the Cathars. >That bias aside, he does take a very narrative and >easily readable approach, and it's not nearly as dry >as a lot of old, moldy texts you're likely to find in >a library. If I remember correctly, it's a fairly >recent book, and I picked up a copy at Barnes and >Noble about a year ago, when it was first published. > >If you're looking for 'meat and bones' description of >Cathar/Albigensian beliefs and practices, the latter >is probably your best shot. I've never found another >book to equal the sort of information this book gives >on Cathar doctrine, and how that translated into how >they lived their every-day lives. A lot of general >Albigensian/Cathar history in here, too, but it'd >probably do you most good in the wealth of information >it affords on how their peculiar (and I DO mean >peculiar!) ideas were worked out in their society, >from political allegiance to local government to their >doctrines on sex, welfare, salvation, and everything >in between. > >Hope some of this helps, and great topic! I think the >Albigensians/Cathars are really overlooked by a lot of >Medieval historians, and that's a shame, because it >was such an interesting movement, albeit one with some >glaring theological flaws. Anyhew, best of luck, and >if there's any further help I can render, just let me >know! > >-Matt Cason

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