Charlemagne and his world

Heer's text is scholarly and readable. The numerous visuals of Carolingian items--everything from Charlemagne's Aachen cathedral, to photos of the Rhine-Danube canal site, to tapestries and metal pieces--enhance the content and give a feel for life as it was at the time. The content is organized by topic and includes (among others) the wars, economic organization, Church-state relationship, and Charlemagne's education/arts agendas. I found the description of the impact of the stirrup on military strategy especially interesting. Writing is clear and appears mostly unbiased. This text is a must for anyone wanting to build a Charlemagne library. With copies of Charlemagne biographies by Einhard and Notker the Stammerer, the Heer text would give the collector a well-rounded account of the 9th Century. The index is also helpful and the bibliography includes reputable sources.