The Return of Martin Guerre is a great piece of historical writing -- and it's been celebrated as a movie, too. In the hands of Natalie Zemon Davis, this story of assumed identities and their eventual unraveling is a magical thing: Davis presents social history with techniques typically reserved for the novelist. Which is not to say that Davis reaches for too much: indeed, her history is well researched and accompanied by extensive footnotes. The point instead is that Davis weaves a narrative which reads like a novel: and yet, it is, in many way, traditional history. I found myself captivated not only by the story of Martin Guerre, but also by the accompanying social and religious context. The sixteenth-century was a period of profound change in France -- as it was elsewhere in Europe. And the ability of Davis to situate the events leading to the eventual return of Martin Guerre is very effective. I finished this book in only a few sittings. It was a pleasure to read: in part because the characters -- the historical characters -- come to life.
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