New Medieval Books: More Swindles from the Late Ming
The second instalment of a translation of an early seventeenth-century Chinese source on scams and cons offers a fascinating window into pre-modern crime.
Medieval Book of the Year: The Hungry City
Medievalists.net’s choice for the Book of the Year! This book offers a compelling account of the famine that struck Barcelona in 1333–34, reconstructed through the records of the city’s government. Vividly written yet firmly grounded in the sources, it stands as a fitting culmination of Kelleher’s work as a medievalist.
New Medieval Books: Europe and the End of Medieval Japan
The years 1549 to 1650 are often described as Japan’s ‘Christian Century’—a period marked by intense contact with European traders, missionaries, and ideas. This book uses that era as a case study in medieval and early modern globalisation, tracing how cross-cultural exchanges reshaped politics, religion, and daily life.
New Medieval Books: The Observations of Gilles le Bouvier
Written in the mid-15th century by a French diplomat, this newly translated report offers more than just a glimpse of Europe’s lands and regions. Part travel guide and part survey, it provides a concise yet vivid look at the peoples and states of the medieval world.
New Medieval Books: Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans 1452-1461
This book presents a translation of a 15th-century chronicle, a key primary source for the study of the Wars of the Roses.
New Medieval Books: New Stories Told while Trimming the Wick
This collection of 22 short stories from the early Ming Dynasty holds the distinction of being the first work of fiction ever banned in China. Fortunately, these tales—ranging from tender romances to eerie encounters with the supernatural—have survived for us to enjoy today.
New Medieval Books: Madinat al-Zahra
In the 10th century, the wealthiest and most dazzling centre of Europe was Madinat al-Zahra, the Radiant City, built as the capital of the Caliphate of Córdoba. This volume brings together fifteen essays that explore the history and legacy of this extraordinary palace-city, alongside the exquisite artefacts crafted within its walls.
New Medieval Books: The Elder Futhark
At the dawn of the Middle Ages, one of Europe’s most important writing systems was the Elder Futhark. This book introduces this runic alphabet, exploring its symbols and how they were inscribed on rune stones and everyday objects.
New Medieval Books: Black Knights
Medieval Arabic literature frequently included Black African characters, offering valuable insight into contemporary ideas about race and race relations. This book examines those sources to uncover how such concepts developed in the Middle Ages and how they have continued to influence perceptions of race up to the present day.
New Medieval Books: The Wilted Lily
Les Grandes Chroniques de France, one of the most important sources for French medieval history, was first compiled in the 13th century and continued until 1461. This book explores not only its value as a historical record but also its role in shaping the ideals and lessons intended for French kings.
New Medieval Books: Henry III: Reform, Rebellion, Civil War, Settlement, 1258-1272
The second volume in the monumental biography of Henry III, it tells the story of how the English king faced growing discontent, leading to a rebellion that almost ended his long reign.
New Medieval Books: The Making of Medieval Central Europe
As the Poles, Czechs, and Hungarians established their medieval states, they became deeply entangled with the Holy Roman Empire and other Western European powers. This book explores the complex politics and state-building processes of Central Europe, a region marked by both cooperation and conflict.
New Medieval Books: Balthild of Francia
In the seventh century, Balthild rose from servitude to become queen of Neustria and Burgundy through her marriage to Clovis II. Following his death, she served as queen regent for their son, Chlothar III, and earned a reputation as a capable and reform-minded ruler—particularly noted for her efforts to end the practice of slavery. This book explores her remarkable life and legacy.
New Medieval Books: Global Ships
Global Ships: Seafaring, Shipwrecks, and Boatbuilding in the Global Middle Ages By Amanda Respess Cambridge University Press ISBN: 9781009343398 From the sturdy cogs…
New Medieval Books: Documenting Warfare
Administrative records offer a lot of insights into the Hundred Years’ War. This collection of 18 articles tells us about a wide range of topics, from ransoms to crimes on campaign.
New Medieval Books: Madrid
This book traces the history of Madrid from prehistoric settlements to the present day, charting its rise to become the heart of one of the largest empires of the early modern world.
New Medieval Books: Bastions of the Cross
This book sheds light on several lesser-known medieval churches in northern Ethiopia. It offers fresh insights into the region’s architectural and artistic heritage.
New Medieval Books: Discovered but Forgotten
Situated in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives played a key role in medieval trade networks. This book explores Chinese engagement with the islands, focusing on a two-century period during which they became an important outpost for China’s expanding maritime influence.
New Medieval Books: Muhammad’s Military Expeditions
Between 622 and 632, the early Muslim community became involved in a series of military conflicts with rival Arabian groups and the Byzantine Empire. This book examines the military history of these encounters, “emphasizing them as a series of tribal incursions rather than religious missions.”
New Medieval Books: Forgotten Vikings
This book sets out to provide a sweeping overview of the Viking Age, covering Norse history from the sixth to the fifteenth centuries. Unlike many similar works, it reaches well beyond Scandinavia and England, incorporating a wide geographical scope and drawing extensively on archaeological evidence.
New Medieval Books: History in Flames
Many medieval materials survived for centuries, only to be lost in more recent times to war and violence. This book tells the story of some of Europe’s most important collections that have since vanished.
New Medieval Books: The Romance of the Violet and Other Wager Tales from Medieval France
This book offers translations of three thirteenth-century romances—The Romance of the Violet, The Romance of the Count of Poitiers, and The Tale of King Flore and the Fair Joan—each centred on men who wager over a woman’s virtue.
New Medieval Books: Marco Polo and His World
Marco Polo’s account of his journey to Asia is one of the most well-known texts to come out of the Middle Ages. This book explores the people, places, and wonders that Polo described in his writings.
New Medieval Books: Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford and Duke of Ireland (1362-1392)
This biography re-examines the life of Robert de Vere, the English nobleman best known as a childhood friend of Richard II. It investigates whether he truly deserved the reputation of a shameless sycophant that medieval chroniclers gave him.
