The Early History of Greed: The Sin of Avarice in Early Medieval Thought and Literature (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Literature)
Worth buying if: You enjoy close readings of sermons, hagiography, and theological texts.
Skip it if: You want a broad economic or social history with lots of quantitative data.
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780521385220. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
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Summary
Richard Newhauser traces the development of greed as a sin in early medieval theology, sermons, and literature, showing how moralists defined, debated, and depicted avarice across texts and contexts.
Why this book now
Revisiting medieval attitudes toward wealth reveals foundations of enduring debates about money, morality, and social order that still resonate today.
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Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You enjoy close readings of sermons, hagiography, and theological texts.
- You're interested in ethics, medieval intellectual history, or the moral language of money.
- You want a broad economic or social history with lots of quantitative data.
- You prefer narrative-driven medieval history or popular anecdotes over textual analysis.
- You need the newest edition, freshest examples, or the most current framing.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780521385220
Worth buying if: You enjoy close readings of sermons, hagiography, and theological texts.
Skip it if: You want a broad economic or social history with lots of quantitative data.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Balanced Moderate time
At roughly 262 pages of academic prose, expect a focused but demanding read—suitable for several concentrated sessions rather than a quick browse.
What stands out here
This Cambridge volume foregrounds Newhauser's careful textual scholarship and interpretation of theological and literary sources on avarice.
Best way to approach it
Read slowly with attention to primary-text examples and footnotes; taking notes on key authors and arguments will clarify the book's intellectual thread.
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Exact edition: ISBN-13 9780521385220
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.