This collection of essays arises from a conference that took place in the Gästehaus der Universität Hamberg (run by the Stiftung Weltweite Wissenschaft). Insights from social-scientific studies on the constructs of narrative and space inform the way martyrs became patrons. The central idea being that not only do the martyrdom accounts pass along certain messages to their readers, but the material setting in which they were read also makes meaning of the text. In other words, “…the story made the martyr and the staging made the saint” (p. 27).

Panzram’s opening essay explains how saints’ remains have impacted the ancient history and the modern historiography of North Africa. Also in the “Prologue” section, Éric Rebillard revisits scholarship on the manuscript traditions of several North African martyrdom accounts so as to offer “living texts” as an alternative to “authentic texts.” The nine essays that follow then offer specific case studies, with part one devoted more to story and part two more to staging. Specific martyrs and sites covered in these essays include Salsa of Tipasa, Marciana of Caesarea, “military saints,” the Abitinians, various individuals venerated in Hippo, the bishops honored of Bulla Regia and Mustis, shrines in Tipasa, and later Byzantine accommodations of martyrdoms. Then, in a somewhat different vein, the concluding “Epilogue” by Éric Fournier uses the framework of trauma and memory to consider the ideological elements in the North African martyr literature. The whole collection consists of excellent scholarship, and it offers many helpful illustrations and figures. It is a valuable contribution to the field.