Non-fiction, non-autobiographical books on the Camino

[Boanerges]

Hello,

I'm looking for some insight into some English-language historical books on the Camino I may have missed. I am a big history junkie and even did some graduate work on aspects of the Camino. I have read:

1.) Gitlitz and Davidson's endlessly fascinating The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago. I even toted it all along the Frances and felt it was worth the weight.
2.) William Melczer's The Pilgrim's Guide to Santiago, which is the English critical edition of the Picaud's 12th- century guide, and is worth a read simply for the voluminous and detailed Introduction to the text, as well as his footnotes to the text itself. Lots of historical goodies impossible impossible to find elsewhere.
3.) Nancy Frey's Pilgrim Stories, which, while a work of sociology now almost two decades old (and which I think was her doctoral dissertation), has a lot of good material covering the differences between the Camino and other Christian pilgrimages as well as general sociological material on pilgrimage itself as a human phenomenon.

A quick search shows me that there are almost as many Camino travelogues as pilgrims--but what other books of a more historical, sociological-cultural, or theological bent exits out there that you would recommend?

Thanks!

 

[mspath]

See the many citations in this earlier forum post which is still relevant.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/books-on-the-camino-frances.802/

Here are some basic camino history books in French which you might also find useful:

Barret, Pierre, et Jean-Noel Gurgand, Priez Pour Nous a Compostelle, Paris, Hachette, 1978;
Gicquel, Bernard, La Legende de Compostelle, Paris, Tallandier, s.d.;
Pericard-Mea, Denise,
Compostelle et Cultes de Saint Jacques au Moyen Age, Paris, PUF, 2000;
Rucquoi, Adeline et al., Saint Jacques et la France, Paris, Editions du Cerf, 2003.

Happy research and Buen camino!

 

[scruffy1]

Hello,

I'm looking for some insight into some English-language historical books on the Camino I may have missed. I am a big history junkie and even did some graduate work on aspects of the Camino. I have read:

1.) Gitlitz and Davidson's endlessly fascinating The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago. I even toted it all along the Frances and felt it was worth the weight.
2.) William Melczer's The Pilgrim's Guide to Santiago, which is the English critical edition of the Picaud's 12th- century guide, and is worth a read simply for the voluminous and detailed Introduction to the text, as well as his footnotes to the text itself. Lots of historical goodies impossible impossible to find elsewhere.
3.) Nancy Frey's Pilgrim Stories, which, while a work of sociology now almost two decades old (and which I think was her doctoral dissertation), has a lot of good material covering the differences between the Camino and other Christian pilgrimages as well as general sociological material on pilgrimage itself as a human phenomenon.

A quick search shows me that there are almost as many Camino travelogues as pilgrims--but what other books of a more historical, sociological-cultural, or theological bent exits out there that you would recommend?

Thanks!

W. Melczer The Pilgrim's Guide to Santiago? Easy Peasy
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Se...me-_-Results&an=William+Melczer&tn=&kn=&isbn=

 

[scruffy1]

Try "Compostela and Europe, The Story of Diego Gelmirez" published by Skira - a humongous sized book with a humongous amount of history!

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Se...tela+and+Europe+the+story+of+diego+&kn=&isbn=

 

[scruffy1]

One of my favorites: "The Age of Pilgrimage, The Medieval Journey to God" Jonathan Sumption
"Saint James in Spain" T. D. Kendrick interesting
"The Pilgrimage to Santiago" Edwin Mullins interesting
"Santiago de Compostela" Marilyn Stokstad
Not Camino but extremely interesting "The Face of Spain" Gerald Brenan
Finish this lot then we'll talk

 

[Deleted member 76633]

I've just ordered "The Age of Pilgrimage, The Medieval Journey to God" by Jonathan Sumption on the basis of his recent quote about on the effects of COVID-19 and the lockdown. Being a medieval scholar, he may have a wider appreciation of plague and pestilence - as well as pilgrimage.

What sort of life do we think we are protecting? There is more to life than the avoidance of death. Life is a drink with friends. Life is a crowded football match or a live concert. Life is a family celebration with children and grandchildren. Life is companionship, an arm around one's back, laughter or tears shared at less than two metres. These things are not just optional extras. They are life itself. They are fundamental to our humanity, to our existence as social beings. Of course death is permanent, whereas joy may be temporarily suspended. But the force of that point depends on how temporary it really is.

As an aside, I have also been able to witness him in court as a Supreme Court judge. Sharp, erudite and looks like Doc from "Back to the Future"