Early Lives of Charlemagne by Eginhard and the Monk of St Gall edited by Prof. A. J. Grant

"Early Lives of Charlemagne" by Eginhard and the Monk of St Gall, edited by Prof. A. J. Grant, dives into the life of Charlemagne through two unique perspectives. Eginhard, a close friend, delivers a factual retelling of the emperor who united Western Europe and led the Carolingian Renaissance. Contrasting this, the Monk of St. Gall paints a more legendary portrait, filled with myths that emerged after Charlemagne's passing. The book highlights the differences between a grounded historical biography and the imaginative stories that shaped Charlemagne's legacy, exploring how these narratives reflect both the man himself and the way he was remembered in medieval times.