K.R. Kobrin’s book “The Middle Ages: Essays on Borders, Identity and Reflection” opens a small series on medieval studies (series minor). The book is devoted to several interrelated topics: new approaches to political history, the formation of regional identity in the Middle Ages (and the place of political mythology in this process), as well as the history of medieval studies of the 20th century in the political and cultural context of our time. The author analyzes political and mythological stories from the medieval Welsh epic “The Mabinogion” and the works of Geoffrey of Monmouth. Particular attention is paid to the life and works of the famous medieval author, church and statesman Herald of Cambria. Along with a detailed study of Welsh medieval material, the author also explores the fate of medieval studies in the 20th century. - using the example of the works of M. Blok, E. Kantorovich and O. G. Eksle. The book is addressed to historians, philosophers, philologists and cultural scholars, as well as to all those who are interested in medieval studies and intellectual history of the 20th century. Table of contents: What is this book about 7Chapter I. Political mythologies in a regional context: medieval Wales About one buried and dug up head: exhumation in British political mythology 13 "Political" XI century in Wales (1039-1100) 31Chapter II. Identity in the medieval regional and pan-European context: Herald of Cumbria Herald of Cumbria: identity, politics and historiography of the second half of the 19th-20th centuries. 73Imperial books of the Herald of Cumbria 103Herald of Cumbria: borders of the homeland, border as homeland 123Chapter III. Medieval studies: several cases of reflection Ernst Kantorovich on history: crushing bodies of power 139How important it is to read medievalists 175On the history of one apology (Marc Bloch between history and historical anthropology) 186