"A masterfully wide-ranging historical account."--Francesca Peacock, Daily Telegraph "Learned and judicious. An ambitiously descriptive and analytical survey that maps its subject in all its complexity without obscuring its contours."--Peter Marshall, Literary Review "A subtle and profound study of an extraordinary social phenomenon that dominated Europe for over a millennium."--Mathew Lyons, Engelsberg Ideas "[This book] contains plenty of insights that will challenge typical preconceptions about monastic life."--Collin Garbarino, World "Splendid . an accessible, authoritative and comprehensive account. Jotischky is eminently positioned to fulfil this task.

"--Colmán Ó Clabaigh, Irish Theological Quarterly "A thorough account of the 'engine rooms of medieval society.'"-- Kirkus Reviews Listed in Englewood Review of Books ' "Most Anticipated Books for Christian Readers," Fall 2024 "Superb. Jotischky brings monasteries and monks to life; he presents us with a real, credible, and compelling picture of life inside the cloisters. It is a book that establishes high expectations for itself--and lives up to them spectacularly."--Kevin Madigan, Theological Studies "A vast, panoramic history. What makes this book illuminating is its focus on larger patterns of monastic life's formation, development, and evolution."-- Choice "A 'grand narrative.' .

Sympathetic, evenhanded, and non-judgmental."-- American Benedictine Review "A fine scholarly guide to the origins, growth and flourishing of the myriad forms of Christian ascetic life that dominated both Western and Eastern Christianity for a millennium and which still form a vital part of the Church's religious experience."--Diarmaid MacCulloch, Emeritus Professor of the History of the Church, University of Oxford "An accessible and compelling exploration of medieval monasticism that asks fundamental questions about the role of monasteries in medieval culture and argues for their relevance to modern societies."--Janet Burton, author of Medieval Monasticism "Clear and compelling. Deeply learned yet welcoming to general readers, this book presents a holistic picture of medieval ascetic practices from Syria to Ireland in all of their dizzying variety over the course of the medieval millennium."--Scott G. Bruce, author of Cluny and the Muslims of La Garde-Freinet.