Reviews Gerd althoff, Johannes fried, and Patrick j. Geary, eds, Medieval Concepts of the Past: Ritual, Memory, Historiography. Publications of the German Historical Institute. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Pp. xi, 353. isbn: 0—52178066 -7. $65. MedievalConceptsofthePastis the proceedingofacolloquium on thetheme, 'Image, Ritual, Memory, Historiography: Concepts ofthe Past,' held in September of1996 with thegoal ofcultivatingcommunication between German andAmerican scholars. To encourage discussion, the organizers focused on issues common to scholars from both countries, such as the use ofritual in High Medieval German politics, and the confluence of both oral and written testimony in the legal proceedings of rendi century Aquitaine and Provence. The editors' introduction provides a concise overview ofthe interactions between American and German medieval scholars from the nineteenth century to the present, tracing the exchange of ideas through the 1920s, the divergence ofthemes in the mid-twentieth century, and how during rhe late-twentieth century, medievalists in bodi countries became interested in similar issues, but for different reasons. The fourteen essays are arranged more or less thematically, with topics including examinations ofthe function ofritual in High Medieval Germany and Carolingian political culture (Weinfurter, Bernhardt, Althoff, and Bue), legal procedures (Vollrarh and Geary), how historians, both modern and medieval, construct history (Goetz, Schneidmüller, Remensnyder, Schuster, and Nirenberg), and marriage, family and gender studies (Jussen, Freed, and Lifshitz). The majority of articles examine Germany in rhe High MiddleAges, although some essays utilizesources from France, England, and the Mediterranean, and the chronological scope extends as early as Late Antiquity and as late as early Renaissance. Individually, the articles are stimulating, engaging, and often quite informative. For example, Felice Lifshitz's article examines the role ofmatrons in rhe emergence of martyr cults in the fourth century and challenges the assumption that martyr cultswere 'natural' developments. She also suggests that therewere multiple models ofchurch hierarchyand organization in LateAntiquity, in addition to the episcopal model that emerged as dominant. The dialogue between StefanWeinfurter, professor ofhistory at the University ofHeidelberg, and John Bernhardt, professor ofhistory at San Jose Sate University, concerning the function of ritual during die reign of Henry II of Germany (1002-1024), demonstrates how German and American scholars can benefit from sharing their ideas. Although basically in agreement, arthuriana 13.3 (2003) 112ARTHURIANA Weinfurter and Bernhardt use the same literary and iconographiesources ro nuance our understanding of Henry's reign in different directions. Weinfurter examines Henry's useofritual asameans to determine howhe garneredsupport andconsensus for his conception ofrulership. Bernhardt, on theotherhand, examines how Henry's self-image intersects with historical memory. As a collection, however, mere is no over-arching theme holding the essays together, aside from the desire to foster dialogue between German and American scholars. As a result, Medieval Conceptions ofthe Past is most useful for those who want more information on a particular ropic, such as ritual or memory. Reinforcing the impression that the collection is aimed at specialists, the authors of the anieles often assume that their audience possesses a ready knowledge of the sources and examples employed. For those who may not be familiarwith the chroniclerThietmar ofMerseburg or with Odo ofDeuil, a simple footnote locating these men in space and time would make the authors' arguments more accessible. It should also be noted that the title really only applies to one article, that of Hans-Werner Goetz, who argues that medieval historians understood the conceptofhistorical progression, but at the same time anachronistically viewed the past as the model ofdie present. For the other articles, the subtitle, Ritual, Memory Historiography provides a more pertinent description. Although Medieval Conceptions ofthe Past will be most relevant to those who specialize in topics such as ritual and historiography, the selection ofessays makes the research and arguments of German scholars accessible to a wider audience of English-speakingmedievalists.Assuch, it fulfillsavaluable role in increasingdialogue between German and American scholars. DEANNA FORSMAN Independent Scholar richard barber, ed., KingArthurin Music. Arthurian StudiesVol. 52. Cambridge: Brewer, 2002. Pp. via, 190. isbn: 0-85991-767-3. £45/175. Announced as the first book devoted to the subject, this collection contains nine authoritative essays: Robert Shay, 'Dryden and Purcell's KingArthur. Legend and Politics on the Restoration Stage'; Derek Watson, 'Wagner: Tristan undboUU and Parsifal...