The Dialogue on Miracles

Reviews / Votes

"It is almost a century since the Dialogue on Miracles was last translated and published, and so the appearance of this new translation is a happy occasion for medieval studies. Caesarius of Heisterbach was once looked upon askance as a teller of tales, but it is precisely this trait which makes him an invaluable source for the thought and feelings of medieval people. He was a great listener and recorder, and with the guidance of Hugh Feiss's introduction, the reader will be introduced to an exciting world of fact and fantasy."
Brian Patrick McGuire, professor emeritus of history (Denmark) "A long-awaited and much-needed new English translation of one of the most important medieval exempla collections. It clearly is a work of passion and dedication, and it is very satisfying to see Caesarius of Heisterbach's masterpiece receive such a committed attention. Ronald E. Pepin's translation will certainly be of great interest and help for scholars, especially for those teaching the Middle Ages, but also for students yet discovering treasures of Cistercian storytelling, as well as for every reader searching for engaging and compelling stories."
Victoria Smirnova, Bavarian State Library (Munich) "This volume will be a good source of spiritual reading and insight into medieval (and especially Cistercian) spirituality and practice."
The Downside Review "The mysterious presence and activity of grace, of transcendent compassion bestowed and received even without conscious awareness, not only in explicitly spiritual contexts but in the midst of the ordinary tasks of daily life, along with comparable lessons found in many other of these exemplary tales, still has power to edify and to instruct, to stimulate and to inspire, power that has now become more readily and more widely accessible through this sprightly new translation."
Catholic Books Review "Students, teachers and scholars will the two volumes a reliable English version of the Dialogus, preceded by a learned introduction and directions for further research. Ron Pepin's highly readable and accurate translation of Caesarius' Dialogus will no doubt remain for a long time the standard English reference for this famous and yet often overlooked medieval text."
American Benedictine Review