'... authoritative, sensitive, imaginative and illuminating ... Professor Constable's book sets the pietistic developments of the later Middle Ages in a new perspective...'. Peter Heath, The Times Literary Supplement 'This ... book evokes the nitty-gritty of twelfth-century religious life, exploring not only the different ways in which orders and individuals adapted to changing circumstances but also the bitter rivalries and disputes that erupted across the religious landscape ... The twelfth-century reform can be seen as an occurrence of monumental complexity. Few scholars are better qualified than Constable to give us an insight into the constituents of the puzzle.' Pacifica 'This is a magisterial, pivotal and detailed study ... This is an exceptionally distinguished book.' Revue d'Histoire Ecclesiastique