An interesting and timely study of a controversial Medieval Saint. Bernard of Clairvaux has a bad reputation which is sometimes deserved and sometimes not. This controversy continues to the modern day, with some historians seeing Bernard as nothing more than a backwards, ignorant bigot and others lauding him as the "first European".

Brian Patrick McGuire somehow manages to find the Middle ground and tries to show us what Bernard of Clairvaux was really like. Bernard was a man of contradictions, but these contradictions were representative of the time in which he lived. Bernard defended Jewish people and urged his contemporaries not to harm them, but also utilized anti-Semitic stereotypes when railing against another cleric who had Jewish heritage.
He seemed to hate women but was close to the mother he lost in childhood and held Hildegard von Bingen in high esteem. He pursued the life of a monk but felt great love for his birth family and cried over the death of one of his siblings.

I found the study of Bernard's psychology to be most interesting. He probably had some kind of eating disorder, and other evidence suggests he may have he had what would be known as a learning difference or mental health issues today. Possibly depression.

This book helps to restore one of the pioneers of the Cistercian Order and the most influential churchmen of his age, to his rightful place in history. It is neither hagiography nor vitriolic invective. Bernard’s flaws and less than admirable traits are not ignored or glossed over, but they are examined in the context of the time period.
At the same time, Bernard emerges as a figure of great intelligence, learning and charisma who was genuinely liked and respected by many of his contemporaries. Bernard had compassion, even if it was not always extended to those he saw as his religious rivals. Yet he was wiling to bend and forgive.

All of this serves to humanize Bernard and, in some ways, show him to be a more relatable if not sympathetic figure. He was neither monster, bigot nor Saint (although he was canonized) but a man of deep devotion and conviction who lay somewhere in between.

Grateful thanks to Cornell University Press for approving my request to review a PDF of this title. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

This is a book for scholars not for readers that do not know much about the subject matter. It will be very hard for a reader that does not know the subject matter.

A deeply academic text that considers the interior life of Bernard of Clairvaux from just before he's a twinkle in his parents life to his last breath, and beyond to the controversies, agreements and discussions of his particulars today. From saint to possible monster, all known extant evidence is considered in this skillful author's work. A mover and a shaker in his medieval world, Bernard had no problem taking on contemporaries, kings, emperors, popes, family and friends if he felt they were not in line on the Right Side of God. He took himself to task from time to time. Bernard had gifts of every sort, and even was known to heal in miraculous ways.

Prior to this read, my sole recognition of "Bernard of Clairvaux" was through my study and singing of hymns. The lyrics to the song I've heard throughout my life Jesus, The Very Thought of Thee is attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux who lived in the Middle Ages. . . .and it is one of my favorites as it gives hope to fallible humans, especially Verse 3.

Verse 3
O hope of ev'ry contrite heart, O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind thou art! How good to those who seek!

This is a careful study, long and thorough. If you are at all interested in Bernard specifically, religion in the Middle Ages, the policies, politics and inner workings of monasteries in the 1100s generally, you will be educated by this read. Most of it was way over my pay grade on this topic, but I could at least hang on to the ladder. I did clearly get the idea that Bernard would NOT be happy that his words are being sung in a non-monastery setting, by non-monks and non-males.

A Sincere Thanks to Brian Patrick McGuire, Cornell University Press and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review. #BernardofClairvaux #NetGalley

Bernard of Clairvaux is a challenging subject for a biography — a man of tremendous historical consequence but also deeply felt spirituality, as revealed in his own writings. Doing Justin to both aspects of his life is tough to do, but this volume manages to do so well. If you’re looking to learn more about this fascinating historical figure, this book is a great place to start.

Firstly, I think Bernard comes across as quite the busybody. He was very keen on getting his nose into the business of basically everyone: fellow abbots, various kings, numerous popes... I'm kinda surprised he didn't get shot down more often.

Secondly, this is not a book for a casual read. It's not that it has a lot of really specific or difficult ideas or language; more that the intricacies of Bernard's involvements, and the problems with some of the sources, AND what McGuire is trying to do (get to the 'inner man') all make this harder work than some other biographies. Which isn't a problem - it does exactly what McGuire sets out to do - but it is something to be aware of.

As someone who has dabbled in medieval history a fair bit, Bernard's name and the Cistercians in general pop up a lot. But this is the first time I've delved quite so deeply into both monastic life and Bernard's general political involvement. There's a lot that's intriguing here: partly because the key early sources are hagiography, which brings its own problems for the historian (and I like that McGuire refuses to outright deny the miracles or in any way denigrate the medieval authors who gave them credence). As well, the 12th century is a whoooole thing for the power of the papacy, and internal church reforms, and the development of ideas of love/friendship/emotion... and Bernard sticks his nose into all of those. All while having terrible gastric issues, apparently, which is also a whole thing.

This book filled in some holes in my knowledge, and expanded the way I think about the role of abbots in medieval history. I should note that there are a few typos, but not enough to make reading it a problem.

The author has a great writing style that feels personable but also deploys facts well. So you get a biography that is fact-based but not flat or impersonal, and helps readers consider the medieval context of Bernard's life. Well worth the read, whether you're a medieval scholar or just someone interested in the period.

I found this biography full of information but a little hard to read at times, I would recommend this for any serious history readers

The first time I read about Bernard of Clairvaux was in Alison Weir´s Eleanor of Aquitaine. He popped up in that book here and there and I got intrigued by this man: who is this annoying busy body, fighting with everyone, even kings and popes, making his opinions so forcefully known and under the umbrella of faith and righteousness? He didn't seem at all an attractive character to me to study and get to know more about.

A while ago I came across McGuire's Bernard of Clairvaux on Netgalley and I thought heck let's give Bernard a chance. Isn't it that when you do your best to get to know someone better, when you initially somehow got a bad first impression of them, you start to develop feelings of a deep understanding or at least compassion for the person?
I actually really hoped that this would happen when reading this book, even though I'm aware that someone who lived in the 12th century will remain to at least some extend a mystery to us. The sources just don't allow for a full personality analysis in the way a 21st century person would like.

Frankly, reading this book has been somewhat of a struggle for me. I still don't really know if that's because of the way the book is written or if it's the subject matter. Probably a bit of both.

Bernard has written a lot of letters in his lifetime and has documented quite a few sermon series, has written some treatises, etc. I got extremely bored with the way the author minutely analysed many of them, especially the letters. Many times that didn't seem relevant to get to know the 'inner life' of Bernard. I know there isn't much else that can really give us a sneak peak into the psyche of Bernard, but it honestly bored the crap out of me.
On the other hand, when not going through the endless amount of letters, the author caught my attention again when he gave his commentary on the what Bernard was doing at a particular time, what was going on in the world, how we can interpret his actions and activities, etc. That was interesting and got me going.

There have been moments that I felt that the author interpreted certain actions and letters of Bernard in a naive way. It surprised me that he really took many of them at face value, even though he should know better.
I say this because he is a historian. Perhaps my expectations of historians are cutely naive as well, but I think it's not such a grand thing to expect that they are fully aware of the fact that taking medieval sources like these at face value is very tricky and will not lead to a true understanding.

The way he roasted certain historians about their views and opinions on Bernard amused me. He did so very politely and very diplomatically, but I felt the sneers ;)
Anyway, I again sensed a bit of naivety here and there, but at this point I concluded that the author was just genuinely convinced of his views and that's fine.

A bit jarring for me is the author's comparing of Charlemagne with Bernard as 'the first European'. He states that Charlemagne could indeed be called the first European, but only in political terms and not in spiritual terms. Then he continues to Bernard...
To each his own, but this made me feel a bit weird. IMHO I think considering Bernard as the first European, on a spiritual level, is stretching things way too far. Yes he was influential, yes he crossed boundaries and kept up a network of friends and foes all over Western Europe. But I still think that his influence shouldn't be overstated.

Have a gained an understanding of Bernard of Clairvaux? No, not even close. Again, this cannot be expected when you read a study about a 12th century person. Have I started to appreciate or like him? No, but that's okay. As the author repeatedly says, Bernard remains an enigma and is a 'difficult saint'.

I would recommend this book to people thoroughly interested in Cistercian spirituality and affectivity and to people who love to study medieval Christianity. I'm neither of those and reading this book unfortunately felt like a boring task.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Bernard of Clairvaux
An Inner Life
by Brian Patrick McGuire


Cornell University Press
Biographies & Memoirs | History
Pub Date 15 Oct 2020





I am reviewing a copy of Bernard of Clairvaux through Cornell University Press and Netgalley:



Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) was a man of many talents. He was a monk abbot, adviser of kings and popes, author of some of the finest latin prose to emerge from the Middle Ages.






The world Bernard of Clairvaux was born into was one of hope and promise. From the ninth to the eleventh centuries, Western Europe had been the object of Viking plundering. Today, some Danish archaeologists claim that the Vikings were more traders than pirates, but monks along the coasts and rivers of Europe knew better.



Travel that had once been dangerous had become possible and even attractive.




Brian Patrick McGuire delves into the life of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. He offers a refreshing interpretation that finds within this grand historical figure a deeply spiritual human being who longed for the reflective quietude of the monastery even as he helped shape the destiny of a church and a continent. It was heresey, crusades, politics and papacies as well as theology and disputation shaped this astonishing man's life. McGuire presents Bernard of Clairvaux’s life in an all informed and clear-eyed biography.






Bernard of Clairvaux reveals a life full of momentous events and spiritual contemplation, from Bernard's central roles in the first great medieval reformation of the Church and the Second Crusade, which he came to regret, to the crafting of his books, sermons, and letters. We learn what brought brought Bernard to monastic life and how he founded Clairvaux Abbey, established a network of Cistercian monasteries across Europe, and helped his brethren monks and abbots in heresy trials,.




I found Bernard of Clairvaux to be both well written and well researched, allowing us to get a better glimpse of this early Medieval Monks life and works, and therefore find it worthy of five out of five stars!




Happy Reading!

I was hoping to get a biography and insight into St. Bernard, and I was encouraged by the introduction. Instead this is a very pedantic and detailed analysis of his writings, often letters. This book is only of interest to academics.

Bernard of Clairvaux: An Inner Life is an outstanding biography that presents compelling analyses of the saint's writings and contemporary sources while fully engaging the reader in exploring the dimensions of his character with a uniquely frank style.  Author Brian Patrick McGuire interrogates the psychology of this monk as he traces the events of his life, and he does so with a particularly modern sensibility and a tone that is conversational.  This makes this biography far less dry than one might suppose considering the subject is a twelfth century monk who often distinguished himself through nuanced prose rather than dramatic action.  McGuire writes about Bernard's psychology almost as though he were a character in a novel -- imagining possible influences affecting his actions and what reactions he might have to different scenarios. This is not to say the book is too speculative; all insights are linked to specific events or a close reading of Bernard's own writing. I enjoyed reading this book very much!  Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me a free galley copy in return for my honest feedback.

Bernard of Clairvaux was and is a complicated historical figure - a contradiction, an enigma, a politician, a saint; humble yet arrogant, proud, egotistical; passive yet domineering; retiring yet forthright and downright interfering.

McGuire tells us that he seeks " ... to find Bernard as a man, monk, abbot, political figure and central actor in Christian Europe ...". He successfully dispels some of the myths surrounding Bernard, whilst discussing the interpretation of the earlier sources and how they came to be adopted in later biographies. McGuire uses Bernard's own writings to "... cast light on the way Bernard understood himself and the world around him ...".

For me personally, I was interested in Bernard's involvement in the papal schism, the Crusades, and his dealings with the Knights Templar and King Roger II of Sicily. Despite repeated entreaties to return to his humble life within the Cistercian Order, Bernard still managed to insinuate himself upon the international political stage whenever the opportunity presented - in fact he comes across as being quite offended if he was not being consulted by princes, kings and popes! McGuire mentions that Bernard "... worked to define orthodox belief and at the same time responded for the most part generously to the churchmen and others who turned to him for counsel and assistance ..."

There is no doubting the global influence and magnetism of Bernard, and McGuire provides a readily accessible study of this great man - though with the following proviso - he sees "... no reason to whitewash Bernard to make him politically correct for our age ...". And rightly so, for Bernard was not of our age and we not of his.

Towards the end of the book McGuire takes our certain themes and expounds upon them - themes such as: sources used; prior biographies written; Second Crusade and the Knights Templar; Bernard's relationships with Peter Abelard, Stephen Harding (Abbot of Citeaux) and Peter the Venerable (Abbot of Cluny); his sermons.

For those wishing to learn more and add to their own studies of Bernard, McGuire's book is definitely one to read.

This is a very personal book about Bernard of Clairvaux, his time period and politics, and the author's relationship with Bernard as a historical figure. Clearly written and designed for general audiences, this biography delves into church factions, warring kings and dukes, and complex social issues with elegance and ease. It's a great introduction to the medieval in Western Europe and its influential figures.

An interesting and well researched book that made me learn a lot about Bernard of Clairvaux.
I liked the style of writing, the explanations and how the author helps you to understand Bernard, his evolution and his historical time.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine