Ideas and Cultural Margins in Early Modern Germany ─ Essays in Honor of H.C. Erik Midelfort

This excellent festschrift in honor of German historian H.C. Erik Midelfort reflects his lifelong interest in the margins of Early Modern society. Editors Plummer (history, Western Kentucky University) and Barnes (History, Davidson College) provide an affectionate academic biography of Midelfort as well as a bibliography of his work. The book is divided into four parts: laity, clergy, academics, and legal authorities, but all the essays are concentrated on the fringes of the topics. For instance, the mixed blessing of the printing press is discussed in essays on witch hunting and rumor mongering. In a book concentrating on Early Modern Germany, it is not surprising that Luther appears in several articles. However, one might not expect to find him in juxtaposition to nude paintings by Lucius Cranach. Other topics include clerical bigamy, murder to avoid suicide, torture, levitation and leprosy. The changes occurring in the collective world view caused by the explorations of the Atlantic and the discovery of new/old learning from the Greek philosophers are a background to many of the articles. Each one is a thought-provoking, enlightening example of fine scholarship on the long neglected liminal edges of German culture. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Marjorie Elizabeth Plummer is Associate Professor of History at Western Kentucky University, USA and Robin B. Barnes is Professor of History at Davidson College, USA