"Though the events in Oathbreakers are distant in time, Gabriele and Perry describe them with an immediacy that's both informative and entertaining. . . . [ revealing] that the emotions driving the actors in the Carolingian dramaambition, greed, and the lust for powerare in fact as timely as today's headlines." Shelf Awareness
Through subtle readings of biased chronicles and documents, Gabriele and Perry dispel the romantic aura of the Carolingian era, depicting it as an entertaining but gruesome medieval picaresque of power-hungry plots, murders, andstomach-churninglyblindings. The authors also shrewdly explore the Franks genuine belief in the sacredness of kingshipand especially of royal oathsthat kept such a violent system in motion. The result is an enlightening portrait of the medieval mindset. Publishers Weekly
"Lively writers, the authors cast a critical eye on the surviving sources, delivering a painless education on how historians try to determine what actually happened from fragmentary and wildly biased accounts. A scholarly and entertaining history of warring brothers." Kirkus
Cheer yourself up. . . . Take the medieval exit from 21st century troubles and enjoy some ninth-century strife and schooling. Rebecca Solnit
Matthew Gabriele and David M. Perry do an excellent job of detailing a complex story of shifting alliances and bitter conflict, creating an intricate portrait of Medieval strife that rivals any episode of Game of Thrones. Oathbreakers is historical writing at its finest. Chicago Review of Books, 12 Must-Read Books of December 2024
The Holy Roman Empire reached a state of peace, however tenuous. But Charlemagnes heirs had greater ambitions. The empire fell into civil war, as sons fought fathers and one another. This set the stage for Europes Middle Ages. Historians Gabriele and Perry (The Bright Ages, 2022) plumb resources from the era to narrate the story of these internecine struggles.This is a serious, meticulous history that will also appeal to Game of Thrones fans, who will discover intriguing parallels between history and fiction. Booklist
.a vivid and engaging narrative of the political events of the early ninth century. TLS (UK)
Full of twists and turns, family feuds, and destabilizing coups, the authors make the ninth century come alive with an engaging read that doesnt skimp on academic rigor." Arlington Magazine, 10 New Books to Read in December
For such a significant event as the Carolingian Civil War, its surprising how few books cover the topic in depth. Even more surprising is how well-written and accessible this one isperfect for history enthusiasts. Medievalists.net
This rousing history of a real-life Game of Thrones details the ninth-century battle among Charlemagnes heirs for control of his empire. New York Times Book Review
History buffs will enjoy this tale of fathers and sons, rebellion and betrayal, promises made and broken, plots and intrigue, and ultimately oaths taken and broken. The Denver Post
Popular history as it should be writtenintelligent and wry, with some snarky digs at modern times despite nominally being about the 9th-century Franks. Highly recommend. Harry Turtledove, award-winning author of The Guns of the South
as shocking, dramatic, and action-packed as any novel. BookBub, These Nonfiction Books Are Perfect Beach Reads
While all of this is the sort of stuff that professional medievalists love to see, the thing I like most about Perry and Gabrieles effort is that it is fun. The Bright Ages is written in such an engaging and light manner that it is easy to race through. I found myself at the end of chapters faster than I wanted to be, completely drawn in by the narrative. You can tell how much the authors love the subject matter, and that they had a great time choosing stories to share and evidence to consider. Slate on The Bright Ages
"Incandescent and ultimately intoxicating, for as the chapters progress, it dawns on the reader that those who lived in this period were more conventional than cardboard figures. . . . They were, in essence, human." Boston Globe on The Bright Ages
"This revisionist history of medieval Europe takes apart the myth of a savage, primitive period . . . with passion and verve, [ Gabriele and Perry challenge] the reader to tackle assumptions, bias and prejudices about the past to create a more joined-up, inclusive picture of the thousand years that followed the sack of Rome." Peter Frankopan, Guardian, on The Bright Ages