Chollet L. Les Sarrasins du Nord, Une histoire de la crosiade balte par la littérature (XIIe–XVe siecle). Neuchâtel: Éditions Alphil, 2019. 545 p.

The book under review is devoted to the history of the Baltic crusades. The interest for this subject has considerably grown over the last two decades. Unlike in previous studies based on German and Latin sources, the main focus here is on literary works in Old French texts of the 13th–15th centuries. Due to this French perspective the author managed to take a fresh look at the well-known topic and to raise and answer the main question of how the Baltic crusade and especially the imaginary Baltic world helped to create a European vision of alterity and of a frontier of Christianity. In addition, Chollet’s work presents a thorough summary of the sources and current research. On the whole, this book will serve as a good introduction to the Baltic crusades for students and for specialists in other crusades.

history of the Baltic crusades, imaginary Baltic world, literary works written in old French, 13–15th centuries