الرهبنة والتجديد في جنوب إيطاليا

Leo Marsicanus's book tells the history of the Abbey of Monte Cassino from its founding by Saint Benedict in the sixth century until 1075. The book provides a detailed and engaging account of the trials and tribulations of the monastery, as the monastery was twice destroyed and abandoned in the early Middle Ages, and then rebuilt. The book concludes with a comprehensive account of the construction and inauguration of the new monastery church by the abbot, Desiderius, between the years 1066 and 1071. The book is also a major source for the history of southern Italy in general in the early Middle Ages, and for the Norman conquest of the region during the eleventh century. In addition, Monte Cassino was one of the most important intellectual centers in Western Christendom, and a major contributor to the Reformation within the church during the late 11th century. Liu's book is a very important witness to this role.