Suicide in the Middle Ages

By Alexander Murray

Historical Context: The book exploressuicide in medieval Europe,focusing on the period from the millennium to 1500.

Three-Part Structure: The book is divided into three parts:The Violent against Themselves, The Curse on Self-Murder, and The Mapping of Mental Desolation.

Sources and Evidence: The author uses a wide range of sources, including legal records, chronicles, and religious texts, to examine attitudes and cases of suicide.

Limitations and Scope: The study is limited to medieval Europe, excluding earlier periods and certain groups like the Cathars and Jews.

Oxford University Press, 1998, 485 pages