What kind of people lived in the great medieval abbeys? What was an average day like? Why did monasteries become centers of both artistic & intellectual life? This wonderfully illustrated book answers these questions & more, unfolding life as it was lived inside the great English monasteries. Begins with a Who's Who of the medieval abbey. Describes the craft involved in building a monastery, explains how one joined an abbey, tells of internal violence, saintly monks, & secular engagements, & gives an overview of artistic & intellectual activity. Through historical analysis, maps & an array of images from the period, the rise & fall of monasticism in Britain are discussed, & a clear & vibrant portrait of life in an abbey of the Middle Ages is given.