Customer Reviews
A JOLLY GOOD READ! - By: PD Miller, 07 Nov 2006 
Cathars / Albigeois / Albigensians : it would be difficult indeed to live - as I do -in south-western France & remain unaware of them. I knew about them long before leaving the UK, though, & it seems that vast numbers of people all over the world now take considerable interestin the life, times, persecution & (presumed) extinction of this apparently harmless sect, whose history will forever be associated with the Languedoc.
Among the countless books available on the subject, ranging from the unbendingly scholarly & drily indigestible to the hack-written & downright fanciful, with all shades of the literary spectrumin between, The Perfect Heresy stands out as an intensively-researched work, smoothly & compellingly written.
Easily absorbed, & fascinatingin its detail, O'Shea's account encompasses not only the overt religious bigotry which fuelled the wholesale slaughter now generally referred to as the Albigensian Crusade, but also the hidden agendas : the before-and-after political map of France is a real eye-opener, as are the clearly-described political machinations by which, concealed behind a screen thickly embroidered with self-righteousness, thosein power trampled & manipulated their way towards greater & greater gain, & loftier & loftier personal status. (Good job things are different now, eh?).
My only real criticism of this work concerns O'Shea's eccentric & random anglicism of some French forenames. Perhaps his (slightly patronising?) intention was to smooth the path for non-French-speakers, but if so he has failed : Arnolds & Williams & a multitude of Peters are quite difficult to imagine as Frenchmen, & the latter might well enquire,in wounded fashion, as to why the king of Aragon was allowed to remain as Pedro. And they all might wonder why Jacques never became James.
However, despite that relatively minor irritation, the gripping saga proceeds at a cracking pace, & a bed-time read has suddenly turned into a small-hours session, as the characters take on a life of their own. Cathars & kings & priests & peasants, soldiers & popes & aristocrats & inquisitors, women & men & children of all social conditions - each one comes vibrantly alive under O'Shea's pen, thus bringing each separate scenario into sharp focus.
It is to the author's credit that unlike some modern-day commentators he does not seek to idealise or mystify the Cathars - 'Perfect' may have been the title accorded to their spiritual preceptors, but they did have their failings, & he views them with a matter-of-fact eye, albeit a kindly one. On the other hand, we are leftin no doubt as to his view of the Church, & of its rôlein the drama ; & however one might feel about the Cathars, it would be virtually impossible to contest that view. Meticulously recorded - in all their gruesome particulars - by the inquisitors themselves, the facts are undeniable. Even when viewed against the savage background of mediaeval Europe, the details beggar belief.
By the time you reach the last page, you will surely have learnt something.
Lessons for a modern world - unlearnt ! - By: Catherine Murphy, 23 Jul 2006 Totally absorbing, thought-provoking history of a religious order who believedin the pursuit of a peaceful, humble existence to help them, once they'd died, either reincarnate
in a life closer to God, or ascend to God without reincarnation as a "Perfect". Their peaceful existence & simple message threatened a world dominated by religious zealots & warring nobility. The Holy Roman Empire had to stop them by whatever means available: crusades, the formation of the detested Inquisition. The narrative is rich & colourful & brings to life the personalities of the key players of the drama over a 200 year period - I felt part of it & emotionally wrung-out at the end of the book. My first foray into Cathar history; its really wet my apetite to read more on the
subject & read more of Stephen O'Shea's works.
Intolerence, religious persecution - echoes from the past? - By: Ian David Curry, 23 Mar 2005 
In a world of increasing religious intolerance & inquisitorial style detentions, lessons from the past become even more important. The treatment of the Cathars by the dominant Catholic authorities is one such experience that should not be repeated. The heresy was almost perfect, against all the church stood for, led by the Perfects &in many ways more akin to modern ideology than medieval Catholicism is. The book is similarly almost perfect. It is a highly illuminating account of the establishement, short rise & long fall of a group of heretics, their sympathetic overlords & the whole regional identity of languedoc.
Before reading this work I was relatively ignorant of the internal crusades of Christendom. The Perfect Hersey is a perfect introduction to this period & region, illustrating the sheer inhumanity of the treatment dealt to anyone foolish enough to be labelled a heretic or sympathiser to them. The names of Carcassone, Bezier & Toulouse will signify more than just pretty tourist destinations. And perhaps more importantly the book fillsin a crucial gap, illustrating the importance of the Cathar hersey to the forging of a unified French monarch, a dominance of northern 'Langue D'Oi' culture & the creation of the infamous Inquisitions.
The book is a well written example of good narrative history. It is chronologically coherent, & provides an excellent starting point to anyone whose interestin the intrigues of the Catholic Church's past has been wetted by the attention given to the Da Vinci Code. Not a must read, but for any one with an interestin the area or period it is a vital introduction.
A lively overview of the conflict - By: Max Cairnduff, 18 Mar 2005 This is a well written & lively introductory book covering the Albigensian crusadein Southern France (but not, as the title might suggest, the Cathar movement more generally). As with Jonathan Sumption's similar book "The Albigensian Crusade" it is an overview of the period, the personalities & the reasons for the crusade. It is well written, concentrates on history rather than myth (although it does touch briefly upon the myths that have later arisen) & does an excellent job of bringing the period & the people who livedin it to life.
Both this & Jonathan Sumption's book work very well as guides to this period of history, &in fairness either would make a good choice if you have an interestin this topic. My personal preference of the two was for this book as I found it somewhat fresherin tone & lighterin touch while still containing much the same level of information, it makes a surprisingly good holiday read whereas Jonathan Sumption's book has a slightly drier & more academic flavour. Ultimately though, both are good & both are well written, with this book being a little more accessible & Jonathan Sumption's book having better illustrative maps & plans.
An informative and evocative read - By: , 29 Oct 2004 This book provides an excellent intoduction to the Cathars. O'Shea has the written ability & historical knowledge to give a superb account of the crusades which will provoke sustained interest.
