New Medieval Books: The Book of the Deeds of the Good Knight Jacques de Lalaing
A translation of a 15th-century account of a young knight from Burgundy. Jacques de Lalaing was only 32 years old when he died, but he had already become quite famous for his success in tournaments as well as his military career.
New Medieval Books: The Stone Witch of Florence
Set in Florence at the height of the Black Death, this novel tells the story of a woman who returns from banishment to help save the city and uncover a conspiracy. It’s a blend of historical fiction and fantasy, with a bit of magic.
New Medieval Books: Touching Parchment
These two volumes, both open-access, reveals how medieval people physically interacted with books. This went way beyond just reading them – these manuscripts would be kissed, sworn upon, displayed publicly and more. It’s a fascinating look at how books were more than the words written on them in the Middle Ages.
New Medieval Books: Monasticism in Ireland
This book explores the functioning of monasteries in Ireland during the High Middle Ages and their integral role in the country’s religious life. It addresses the key question: ‘How monastic was the monastic church, and what was its relationship to the church of the laity?’
Book Review: Sweet Hunter: The Complete Poems of St. Teresa of Ávila
The engaging freshness of the translations collapses much of the distance between this fervent mystic of Ávila and the contemporary reader, making Sweet Hunter a fascinating and moving volume.
New Medieval Books: The Rules of Logic
The most widely read introduction to logic in the Arabic-speaking world, this work dates to the 13th century. If you enjoy reading about propositions and syllogism, then this book is for you.
New Medieval Books: Raiders, Rulers, and Traders
A sweeping history from prehistoric times to the 20th century, this book examines how the horse helped shaped civilization along the Eurasian Steppe. Several chapters focus on medieval empires, including the Turks, Mongols and Timurids.
New Medieval Books: The Eagle and The Hart
A rivalry between two cousins shaped the course of English history—King Richard II and his eventual usurper, King Henry IV. This double-biography delves into their tumultuous relationship, exploring the dramatic events that led to the overthrow of a medieval monarch and the rise of a new king.
New Medieval Books: Frankish Jerusalem
After the First Crusade, Jerusalem became a melting pot of new settlers, leading to the rise of a transformed community. This book delves into 12th-century property records to uncover how these immigrants reshaped and redefined the city’s landscape.
New Medieval Books: Monastic Women and Secular Economy in Later Medieval Europe, ca. 1200 to 1500
This book uncovers the economic influence of female monasteries in medieval society, revealing how they played a central role in shaping the economy.
New Medieval Books: Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany
Translations of three medieval German texts, two of which deal with knights while the third is about a fox. All of them were meant to offer political messages for their time, and perhaps for our time as well.
New Medieval Books: A Shattered Realm
This independently published book offers translations of several key sources from 14th and early 15th century Japan, shedding light on the fierce political struggles of the era. Many of these documents are being made available in English for the first time.
New Medieval Books: Medieval Eastern Europe
Medieval Eastern Europe, 500-1300: A Reader Edited by Florin Curta University of Toronto Press ISBN: 978-4875-4487-4 This collection of translated sources delves into…
New Medieval Books: The Life of St Brendan and His Prayer
St Brendan the Navigator is one of the most famous saints from the Early Middle Ages. This book translates his Vita, which recounts Brendan’s life, and a prayer of protection that he supposedly created.
New Medieval Books: Introduction to the Carolingian Age
Serving as ‘an invitation to the study of Carolingian civilization,’ this book examines the political and societal changes that took place in Western Europe in the 8th and 9th centuries. It is mostly a guide to how this empire came about, the family that ruled it, and its quick end.
New Medieval Books: The Optics of Ibn al-Haytham Books IV-V
A translation of a section from Ḥasan Ibn al-Haytham’s work, Book of Optics, which was written between 1011 and 1021. It is a major work of scientific history, changing the way people understood eyesight and light.
New Medieval Books: House of Lilies
The Capetian Dynasty ruled France from 987 to 1328, shaping not only their nation’s history but also leaving a lasting impact across Europe and beyond. This is the story of their rise, reign, and enduring legacy.
New Medieval Books: A Companion to the Environmental History of Byzantium
A collection of 17 essays that cover a wide range of topics, including climate, water management, nature, and even earthquakes in the eastern Mediterranean region during the Middle Ages.
New Medieval Books: The Memoirs of Shah Tahmasp I
This is an account written by a 16th-century ruler where he describes many events and wars of his reign. It aims to both justify his decisions and offer advice to his descendants on how to rule.
New Medieval Books: The New Reynard
The medieval tales involving Reynard the Fox are always a fun read. Here we have translations of three satires from the 13th century, which sees our mischievous protagonist poking fun at politics of the medieval kind.
New Medieval Books: The Medieval Pig
Everything you want to know about pigs in medieval Europe. It ranges from how they were farmed in the countryside and city to how they were depicted in literature and art – and of course, how they ended up on people’s dinner plates.
New Medieval Books: In Defense of Women
An early 16th-century text arguing for equality between men and women. Colonna sets out to show that “women are absolutely perfect and wholly capable of attaining all the virtues, and on that account they are not to be barred from public offices and magistracies.”
New Medieval Books: Saving Michelangelo’s Dome
Examines the efforts to repair and restore the dome atop St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome in the 18th century. The book also delves into how this church was designed and built during the 15th and 16th centuries.
Refugees Find Solace in Dante’s Words
‘Dante on the Move’ explores the profound connections between Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’ and the modern refugee experience.