Jerusalem in Medieval Thought, 400-1300

Focusing mainly on monastic writings of the 12th-century, Renna (history, Saginaw Valley State U., Michigan) traces the meanings and recurrence of the image of Jerusalem for medieval monks. The writings of Bernard of Clairvaux, the Victorines, as well as the early Church Fathers are featured as Renna considers the symbolism of Jerusalem, the Church, and heaven. The book is somewhat confusing in its organization and punctuation—Christian and Latin are not capitalized, for example. The content seems mainly sound, however, if perhaps somewhat general. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR