Originally published in 1972 The Purchase of Paradise is an account of medieval philanthropy and looks at the late medieval aristocracy as a social group. The book analyses their voluntary behaviour, their gift giving and the Church and addresses the nature of charity in the Middle Ages.

Preface Abbreviations 1. Introductions 2. Prayers for the Dead 3. Chantries 4. New Foundations 5. Endowments to Burial Churches 6. Miscellaneous Philanthropy 7. Conclusion Appendix I: Alienations in Mortmain Appendix II: Tables with Raw Numbers Index