Pierre-Olivier Dittmar's 'The Invention of the Animal': The Middle Ages and Animals

Pierre-Olivier Dittmar's new book, "L'Invention de l'animal" (The Invention of the Animal), delves into the intricate relationship between medieval societies and the animal kingdom. The work focuses on the period before the 13th century, a time when the perceived boundary between humans and animals was far more fluid than it is today.

Dittmar argues that medieval people maintained a close proximity to animals, a connection that shaped their understanding of the world and their place within it. This closeness was not merely physical but also deeply embedded in their cultural, social, and symbolic lives.

The book explores how animals were not just seen as distinct entities but were often integrated into human narratives, beliefs, and daily existence. This perspective challenges modern notions of human exceptionalism and highlights a historical period where the lines between species were less rigidly defined.

"L'Invention de l'animal" offers a scholarly examination of medieval attitudes, revealing a complex tapestry of interactions that defined the medieval worldview. It invites readers to reconsider the historical construction of the human-animal divide.