Working from the lectures she delivered at the U. of Notre Dame in September 2004, McKitterick (medieval history, Cambridge U.) expands upon earlier work in which she examined the writing and reading of history in the Frankish kingdoms of the eighth and ninth centuries, seeking out what was meant by history books, what the Franks understood of historical texts, and how they constructed and understood their past. She concentrates on the Carolingian era, in which texts were produced and recopied extensively, covering the meaning of time and the need for world chronicles. Topics include the sacred image of Rome in Carolingian texts, the influence of Hardrad's revolt, and the role of annals in local and national memory. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)