I don’t know about you, but I often read descriptions of medieval clothing and want to know more about the fabric: what did it look like and what was its texture?
The Medieval Tournament: Swords and Swordfish
June 4, 2015 By
Tournaments were a uniquely medieval phenomenon that were part-military training, part-sport, and of a character all their own. Full of colour, pageantry, and action, the tournament was a marked part of medieval society for centuries.
Margery Kempe and the People on the Periphery
May 31, 2015 By
There are few medieval texts I find so entertaining as The Book of Margery Kempe, the fifteenth-century story of a seemingly ordinary woman of Bishops Lynn, England, whose life was transformed by visions of Jesus. T
The Astrolabe: Medieval Multi-Tool of Navigation
May 21, 2015 By
They were the Swiss Army knife of medieval travelers.
Accessus: Where Premodern Meets Hypermodern
May 12, 2015 By
Taking a look at Accessus: A Journal of Premodern Literature and New Media, a free online publication sponsored by The Gower Project
Epic (and Not-So-Epic) Names from Mallory
May 7, 2015 By
Looking for a name for your avatar? Look no further! Everyone knows Lancelot and Gawain, but here are some lesser-known names from one of my favourite books: Thomas Mallory’s Le Morte D’Arthur.
Be A Part of Chaucer’s Tale
April 22, 2015 By
For many people, The Canterbury Tales is not only Geoffrey Chaucer’s great masterwork, but one of the cornerstones of English literature.
The Men Behind the Metal
April 16, 2015 By
Medieval blacksmiths were loved, hated, thought to have magical healing powers, and able to fend off the devil. Here’s a quick look at the men behind the metal.
Caliburn: Merlin’s Tale
April 14, 2015 By
The best way to describe Virgil Renzulli’s Caliburn: Merlin’s Tale is as a King Arthur origin story, set in an alternate universe.
Five Great Ladies Who Refused to Be Quiet
April 9, 2015 By
In the Middle Ages, the ideal woman was meant to be either a helpmeet in marriage, or a cloistered nun, obedience being paramount in both roles. Human nature being what it is, however, not every woman found it easy to fill one of those narrow roles in society. Although my list could be much, much longer, here are five great women who refused to sit down and be quiet.
Microhistory and the Big Picture
April 2, 2015 By
Microhistory draws us in with stories of compelling people, and teaches us more about history along the way. Done well, it can be the best of both worlds.
Lancelot and His Upcoming Reboot: Forgiven or Unforgiven?
March 26, 2015 By
Remakes can be a really interesting way to get at the heart of a story, as long as they don’t misplace that heart in the retelling.
Five Minutes at Craigmillar Castle
March 20, 2015 By
Craigmillar Castle is an extremely well-preserved example of a medieval Scottish castle, and its various improvements over three hundred years. Though it is now a ruin, it is so beautifully intact that you get a real sense of the layout, and how it would have been used centuries ago.
Priests and the Black Death
February 26, 2015 By
As news of outbreaks of disease continues to swirl around the world, I keep being reminded of the bravery of the caregivers who bring comfort and aid to the sick and the dying.
The Reverent Irreverence of Mardi Gras
February 20, 2015 By
How, you may have wondered, is the beginning of a time of deprivation related to such wild festivity?
Three Fairy Tale Romances for Valentine’s Day
February 12, 2015 By
What is Valentine’s Day without a little fairy tale romance? For your Valentine’s Day enjoyment, here are three medieval romances involving fairies.
The Troubadours, Part II: Ladies in Love
February 5, 2015 By
Like many people – if not most – I had heard about the troubadours, but I had no idea that the tradition included women.
The Troubadours, Part I: Sad Songs Say So Much
January 29, 2015 By
The height of their popularity was in the 12th-13th Centuries, and they wrote songs about people, politics, and religion, but most of all, love. Let’s take five minutes to talk about troubadours.
A Kid’s Castle Questions Answered
January 22, 2015 By
Kids always seem to take a keen interest in castles, and they ask great questions that cut to the heart of the matter. So, keeping in mind that there are plenty of mini-medievalists out there, here are some castle questions from a six-year-old, with kid-friendly answers.
Roses are Red, Violets are Beowulf
January 18, 2015 By
Let’s take five minutes to look at medieval alliterative poetry, using some of the most famous poems of the period.
Lost in the Mail
January 8, 2015 By
Recently, I picked up a new hobby in this vein: making chain mail.
Five Books to Start Your Journey Back to the Middle Ages
November 27, 2014 By
Maybe you’re just at the beginning of this love affair with the past, or you know someone who is, and you’re looking for a place to get a good overview of the period before you dive right in.
Medieval Pop
November 14, 2014 By
So what can we learn from reading medieval fiction alongside our history books? Here are five things, for a start.
Richard, Too
November 5, 2014 By
I thought I’d take five minutes today to talk a little bit about one of England’s forgotten kings.
Memento Mori: Medieval Images of Death
October 29, 2014 By
In honour of All Hallows’ Eve, let’s take five minutes to look at how death was expressed in art in the late Middle Ages.
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