R.N. SWANSON is Professor of Medieval Ecclesiastical History at the University of Birmingham. His previous publications include Church and Society in Late Medieval England (1989); Religion and Devotion in Europe, c.1215-c.1515 (1995); The Twelfth Century Renaissance (1999); and Indulgences in Late Medieval England: Passports to Paradise? (2007).
'In The Routledge History of Medieval Christianity Robert Swanson provides us with a clear, authoritative, and wide-ranging account of the social and economic structure of the Medieval Church. In particular Swanson's discussion of the importance of the administrative and spiritual role of the bishop in medieval society, and of the multi-faceted relationship which existed between diocese, parish and the laity during the High and Late Middle Ages is a timely and much needed addition to recent scholarship.' Rebecca Rist, University of Reading, UK 'Robert Swanson has gathered together a distinguished group of scholars to explore medieval Christianity, the Church, and society. The volume manages to penetrate into every conceivable crevice of medieval thought, institutions and beliefs. The clear and accessible style of the essays, the bibliographies attached to each chapter, and the range of subjects will make this volume a vade mecum for students on all levels.' Ken Pennington, The Catholic University of America, USA