The Cathares were a society of non-violent vegetarian celibate people known for their "purity" and their totally out-of-this-world approach to daily life. There isn't nearly as much in English about them as I wish. This book is a little dull, but the phenomenon it describes changed western history, though most people don't know that. Somebody needs to write a really great novel about the Cathares. I meant to do that...haven't gotten around to it yet. I wish somebody would.