Over the past few years a series of encyclopaedias have been published covering distinct themes within medieval society. Such works have been produced to cover topics ranging from warfare and crusading, to gender or distinct geographical regions (such as Germany or Italy). The Encyclopedia of medieval pilgrimage broadens and enriches the current selection of available reference works.
It is a well-chosen subject. The ubiquity of pilgrimage and pilgrimage sites across Christendom necessarily requires scholars wishing better to understand this phenomenon to get to grips with key sites and individuals hailing from regions as disparate as Iberia, the Italian peninsula and the Low Countries. Having a quick reference guide is consequently very welcome and I have little doubt that this work will, in time, sit at the elbow of many scholars concerned either with pilgrimage directly or with linked activities such as crusading. As should already be clear, this work is concerned predominantly with the practice of pilgrimage in Western Christendom. There are some entries on the practice of pilgrimage in Islamic, Jewish, pagan and Byzantine societies, but only a handful, and these serve predominantly to provide an overview and a basic point of reference. Naturally this reduces the work's scope, but none the less this is balanced by the density and thoroughness of the coverage provided on the Christian West.
Within this framework, the encyclopaedia is deliberately interdisciplinary, drawing together material and theoretical approaches from disciplines including art history, architecture, anthropology and gender studies. It helpfully seeks to introduce readers to the broad range of questions surrounding the practice of pilgrimage raised by scholars with many different interests.
The entries themselves have been selected to tackle the various different aspects of pilgrimage. These include its economic implications (covering themes such as donations, souvenirs, markets and banditry); the literature surrounding it (discussing pilgrim itineraries and writers such as Jacques de Vitry and Felix Fabri); as well as evolving theological ideas associated with pilgrimage (i.e. purgatory and pilgrimage vows). There is coverage on the earliest pilgrimages and also the sites and reliquaries that became the crucial goals for pilgrim parties.
The quality of these entries is often very high, with the vast majority providing a lucid and informative overview whilst citing some useful and detailed examples; in this way they generally strike an effective balance between concision and comprehensiveness. All entries are supplemented with suggested lists of important studies for further reading. The entries themselves are supported by a scattering of photographs and also by a series of maps in the opening pages. The maps in particular are very clear and helpful, showing common pilgrim routes.
Overall, this work provides an excellent and scholarly point of reference for researchers working on this topic. It is helpfully conceived and the editors/authors have done a fine job in ensuring that a high standard is maintained throughout.
