History of Paradise

With erudition and wit, this title explores the medieval conviction that paradise existed in a precise although unreachable earthly location. Delving into the writings of dozens of medieval and Renaissance thinkers, from Augustine to Dante, it presents a luminous study of the meaning of Original Sin and the human yearning for paradise.

Looking at myth and tradition through the centuries, this is a fascinating and delightful voyage that shows us how Paradise-on-Earth was a reality for some and how those early pilgrimages have shaped our literature and our lives today.