Epitaph for an Era
Politics and Rhetoric in the Carolingian World

‘Paschasius Radbertus, one of the most learned figures of the ninth century, applied all of his skills as biblical exegete, rhetorician and political insider to rehabilitate not only the shifting political career of Charlemagne's cousin and his own abbot patron Wala, but his own as well. The resulting text, his Epitaphium Arsenii, was so carefully crafted and directed towards such a small and elite audience at the centre of the Carolingian world that only a scholar as gifted as Mayke de Jong could possibly penetrate the multiple layers of this extraordinary text. Her Epitaph for an Era brilliantly illuminates not only Radbertus's dialogue, but the turbulent reign of Louis the Pious and the dissolution of the Carolingian empire.’ Patrick J. Geary, Institute for Advanced Study, New Jersey

'Mayke de Jong’s book combines readability with profound learning. She proffers an insider’s feel for what until recently were understudied fields. Ranging 'between the cloister and court', she probes deep into the cultures of both. As classical rhetoric jostles with dialogues, the past arcane becomes today’s relevant.' Janet L. Nelson, King’s College London

'A model of close textual analysis, de Jong’s study brilliantly elucidates Carolingian political history as both lived and later mourned by Radbertus of Corbie … Highly recommended.' G. I. Halfond, Choice

‘It is therefore a stroke of luck that Mayke de Jong, the historian who corrected the negative image of Ludwig the Pious in a groundbreaking biography, is now also presenting a monograph on the Epitaph of Paschasius Radbertus … with the same empathy with which she made the actions of Ludwig the Pious understandable against the background of the challenges of his time, she now devotes herself to the most important written justification from the camp of his opponents.’ Karl Ubl, Historische Zeitschrift

‘Epitaph for an Era brings us the perspective of an empire’s stakeholders … her book should appeal as much to historians of religion as to those of politics and provides a model for those wishing to combine both with in-depth literary analysis.’ Robert Evans, The Journal of Ecclesiastical History

‘De Jong’s Epitaph for an Era brings Radbert’s rich and understudied literary art fully into the current scholarly conversation, and we are very much the better for it. The book contributes enormously to ongoing debates that will be of interest to any medievalist-debates about Carolingian identity, the transformations of the late antique world, and the birth of ‘medieval’ European ideologies. Paired with its companion translation it promises to contribute even more.’ Andrew Romig, Early Medieval Europe

‘De Jong synthesises political and literary analysis in exemplary fashion, showing how Radbert adopted and adapted principles of rhetoric in his defence of Wala and, by extension, himself.’ Edward Roberts, The English Historical Review

‘In Epitaph for an Era, Mayke de Jong, who has published extensively on the Carolingian world, provides an exemplary study of the Epitaphium Arsenii and its author. De Jong shows that the Epitaphium is not only a fascinating text in its own right, it is in many ways emblematic of an era and its way of thinking.’ Maya Maskarinec, Speculum

‘… the book … presents a remarkably sympathetic portrait …’ Maya Maskarinec, Speculum: A Journal of Medieval Studies