Book Review: Joachim of Fiore and the influence of inspiration. Essays in memory of Marjorie E. Reeves (1905-2003)

Not surprisingly, given the calibre of scholars involved, the individual contributions are of superior quality, running the gambit from conceptual looks at Joachim's apocalyptic hermeneutics (for example Daniel, 'Joachim's unnoticed pattern of history: the second Diffinitio'; Rowland's 'Joachim of Fiore and the theology of the New Testament') and place in twelfth-century politics (for example McGinn, 'Joachim of Fiore and the twelfth-century papacy'; Riedl, 'Joachim of Fiore as political thinker') to close examinations of the Joachite manuscript tradition (for example Wannenmacher, 'Joachim or Joachimist? On the one hand, this volume reveals just how much work is still being done (and remains to be done) on basic questions and historical problems associated with Joachim of Fiore, his 'Joachite' followers and the reception of his ideas, not to mention the overall role of apocalyptic eschatology and prophecy in premodern European politics and society. Joachim's popularity among the purveyors of prophecy and end-times scenarios means that the more we look for him, the more we find, requiring further investigation even to begin to answer questions and to follow up leads raised by Reeves in her foundational works on the abbot.