John Aberth is an independent scholar and medieval historian. He received his Ph.D. in Medieval History from the University of Cambridge, UK, and has taught, both full and part-time, at various colleges and universities in Vermont, New York, and Nebraska. He is the author of numerous books on the Black Death and European culture during the late Middle Ages.

• 1. If a German Migrates into your Empire, Do Not Be Alarmed: The Decline and Fall of Rome; 2. From the Obscurantism of the Northmen, O Lord, Deliver Us: The Viking Invasions; 3. God Wills It! (Or At Least the Pope Does): The Crusades; 4. I’m a Jewish, Heretic, Leper, but Don’t Hold That Against Me: Persecution of Minorities; 5. No Sex Please, We’re Medieval: Sexuality in the Middle Ages; 6. Hail Mary and Eve: Women in Medieval Society; 7. The Man Who Tore his Eyes Out over Unity of Form: Intellectual and Environmental History; 8. Ashes to Ashes, We All Fall Down: The Black Death; 9. Always Look on the Bright Side of Death: A Waning of the Middle Ages?

'A tour de force of historical research and scholarship. For anyone new to some of the major debates about the Middle Ages or interested in a refresher, this book is a must have. Aberth adroitly and confidently tackles some of the most hotly contested issues in Medieval history and whether one ends up agreeing or disagreeing with him, one will be richer for the experience.'Jarbel Rodriguez, San Francisco State University, USA