The Age of the Cloister

Among the most beautiful and evocative buildings in the whole of Christendom are the monasteries of Western Europe. Set either in remote and lovely surroundings or in bustling areas of pilgrimage, they remain monuments to the intense spiritual experiences of medieval times. In this exploration of the age of monasticism, Christopher Brooke examines the ideals, the achievements and the impact on society of this extraordinary flowering of spirituality.