Abstract: This chapter focuses on medieval biography in the Latin world, with a special focus on the period c. 1050–c. 1220. An overwhelmingly large part of the life-writing that survives from the medieval West—whether in chronicles, fictional narratives, letters, or Lives—sets out to display virtues as a source of admiration and inspiration. Such Lives presented ideals that were held up as a high standard and as an entirely positive focus point for the cultural memory of a group. It is shown, however, that especially the inspiration from Sallustâ€...
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Topics: 
Literature
Classics
Art history