A look at author Emily Murdoch’s book, Conquests, from her series, ‘Conquered Hearts’
Knights, Rulers, Pilgrims and Writers: Female Characters in Medieval Children’s Books
October 28, 2015 By
Female characters in modern children’s literature have been shown to be represented in a stereotypical manner, but gender in historical fiction for children has received little scholarly attention.
The Book of Dame Frevisse: Margaret Frazer’s Medieval Mysteries
September 26, 2015 By
Margaret Frazer has written and published fifteen medieval mystery books thus far. These books are considered detective fiction.
Book Review: Rise of the Wolf, by Steven A. McKay
September 14, 2015 By
Bottom line: I can’t recommend this novel strongly enough. You should buy it now.
Literature in an Apocalyptic Age; or, How to End a Romance
August 29, 2015 By
No literature of the Middle Ages has so successfully captured the imagination of recent times as has the medieval romance.
The Archer’s Loss: England’s War, Fate’s Arrows
August 23, 2015 By
As England crumbles, so does Thomas as he rails against the world which has snatched life and love away from him so savagely. The end of the 116 year struggle between old foes shall be the making and breaking of a boy yet to develop into a man….
The Arrow of Sherwood by Lauren Johnson
August 16, 2015 By
My book review of Robin Hood tale, Arrow of Sherwood by Lauren Johnson.
BOOK REVIEW: The Tapestry by Nancy Bilyeau
July 26, 2015 By
Joanna Stafford, our intrepid ex-Dominican super sleuth is at it again. This time, she’s hurled straight into the midst of plotting and deception at Henry VIII’s court.
‘We Do Not Sow’: The Economics and Politics of A Song of Ice and Fire
June 7, 2015 By
George R.R. Martin’s fantasy epic A Song of Ice and Fire brilliantly illustrates a number of basic principles of political economy.
What’s New in Medieval Historical Fiction
June 3, 2015 By
Learn more about these books: See the Sister Fidelma mysteries Wikipedia entry Visit Gear-Gear.com, website for the authors Kathleen O’Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear The Buried Giant review – Kazuo Ishiguro ventures into Tolkien territory – review by Tom Holland in The Guardian ‘The Invention of Fire’ is a thrillingly written 14th-century murder mystery […]
Reinventing the Hero: Gardner’s Grendel and the Shifting Face of Beowulf in Popular Culture
April 17, 2015 By
In twentieth- and twenty-first century Anglophone culture, the impact of Beowulfiana — what we call that amorphous mass of materials that have accumulated around the poem — has been widespread yet subtle.
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.
Review: The Holy Lance, by Andrew Latham
March 24, 2015 By
Inside, what I came across was a solid tale based during the Third Crusade, in the aftermath of the dreadful battle at the Horns of Hattin.
The Beginning of Medieval Historical Fiction: Ten Novels from the 19th century
March 4, 2015 By
Historical fiction was just beginning as literary genre in the 19th century, but soon authors found success in writing about stories set in the Middle Ages.
Historical Lives in Fiction, Characters in Fiction: Are they the same people?
January 30, 2015 By
There is a strong relationship between history and fiction. The characters created by writers, either in historical novels and literary fiction, reflect that relationship. Many of the characteristics of fictional characters can also be ascribed to characters depicted in historical fiction and biographical writing.
‘Pilgrimage’, pilgrimage, and writing historical fiction
January 6, 2015 By
Dr. Pick discusses how she wrote and published a historical novel and the connection between academic writing and writing for a broader audience.
What’s New in Medieval Fiction
January 4, 2015 By
Here are seven recently published novels that will take you back to the Middle Ages!
Medieval Books for Christmas
December 15, 2014 By
It’s that time of year again – the mad scramble for the perfect Christmas gift for the historian, nerd, avid reader on your list. Here are a few suggestions for you – new releases for December and January!
‘There is more to the story than this, of course’: Character and Affect in Philippa Gregory’s The White Queen
October 13, 2014 By
Philippa Gregory has critiqued gendered representations of Elizabeth Woodville and has stated that her 2009 novel The White Queen fictionalises Woodville’s history with the aim of challenging such depictions.
INTERVIEW: A Conversation with SD Sykes about Plague Land
October 3, 2014 By
My interview with fiction author, SD Sykes about her fantastic medieval crime novel, Plague Land.
CONFERENCE: The Historical Novel Society – London 2014
September 19, 2014 By
My review of the recent Historical Novel Society conference that took place in London, England.
BOOK REVIEW: Plague Land by SD Sykes
September 4, 2014 By
My review of SD Sykes brilliant medieval thriller, Plague Land.
BOOK REVIEW: A Triple Knot by Emma Campion
July 29, 2014 By
BOOK REVIEW: A Triple Knot by Emma Campion I had the pleasure of reading another Emma Campion (Candace Robb) novel recently. Campion, who has written extensively about Alice Perrers, the royal mistress of King Edward III, in her hit, The King’s Mistress, is back on the shelves with a new book released this month entitled: A Triple Knot. This […]
A Song of Fantasy Traditions: How A Song of Ice and Fire Subverts Traditions of Women in Tolkienesque Fantasy
June 14, 2014 By
I will show how Martin is working against the tradition of marginalized female characters in the fantasy genre.
Book Review: An Unsuitable Princess, by Jane Rosenberg LaForge
May 16, 2014 By
The fantasy breaks up the troubling narcissism of the diary, while the diary gives the fantasy its grounding and meaning.
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