Forgive the unfortunate title of this marvelous book. Cahill deftly evokes the historic glories of the major medieval (and the places they frequented) in this illuminating overview of philosophy, art and literature, the fifth volume in his series "Hinges of History" on the making of the modern world. Taking as its cue illuminated medieval manuscripts, the book is wonderfully decorated, including color reproductions of medieval masterpieces. Opening with the glories of cosmopolitan Alexandria and Rome, he quickly moves to Hildgard's Rhineland, the France and England of Queen Eleanor, Paris as filtered through the lovers Heloise and Abelard, medieval Oxford, the glories of Giotto's Padua, the Florence of Dante and Ravenna. It's an bold examination of the roots of modernity in medieval Roman Catholic thought.  (EUR239, $32.50)