Currently Reading ...

[Melisende]

I am currently reading "Herectic Lives: Medieval Heresy from Bogomil and the Cathars to Wyclif & Hus" by Michael Frassetto.

[Reg]

I have just started reading "The Perfect King,The Life Of Edward III" by Ian Mortimer.

[Susan]

That one sounds interesting. I got interested in medieval history after reading the novel Katherine by Anya Seton, and it's set during the reign of Edward III.

What did you think of the Heretics book?

[Stephen]

The Perfect King is a truly wonderful book, I have to say its my favourite book of this type.

[Elizabeth]

A Knight and His Armor, Knight and His Castle, A Knight and His Weapons, A Knight and His Horse.

[Pilar]

The Medieval Imagination



by Jacques Le Goff

[Reg]

I am reading Arrowstorm The World of the Archer in the Hundred Years War.

[[deleted user]]

Hi, I've just finished Medieval Women: A Social History of Women in England 450-1500 which I found very interesting.
It started with covering women within the Anglo Saxon period followed by a chapter on the effects of the Norman Conquest on womens roles. The third section covered womens roles and family life after the conquest.
The final section covered women in culture and spirituallity.
The book brought together a large amount of current research (from when it was published in 1995).
One of the more interesting bits of the book is that there are extracts from translations of primary sources to go with each chapter.
It's made me want to get at the primary sources if I can find them.
Cheers,
Andy

[[deleted user]]

Hi again,
I'm currently reading The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century. This looks to be an interesting book to get the feal of life during the Medieval period.

[Oana]

Hi Andy,

I just finished the Barbarian book and hope to start A Distant Mirror.

I've seen The Time Traveller book, but as I am trying to combine medieval history and French history reading for an upcoming trip to France, I've avoided taking that out from the library as my stack of books is already too high. Is it good?

[[deleted user]]

I'm still reading it. It seems to give a basic intriduction to a wide range of different aspects of Medieval life. I'm enjoying it though I'd argue with a few of the statements. It's worth reading and is fairly light compared with many text books which made a pleasent change.

Cheers,
Andy

[Mrs. C.]

I am reading *Malory: The Knight Who Became King Arthur's Chronicler* by Christina Hardyment. I admire the way she lets no detail drop. Her section on what probably was the real cause for the accusations of assault on a woman is truly amazing. I've used it with my students to teach how to write a refutation.

[Melisende]

Heretic Lives has been on the backburner for some months now and slowly plodding along with:

Marguerite de Navarre: Mother of the Renaissance

[Christina]

I also read a distant mirror sometime ago and very much enjoyed it. I'd love to know what book you are reading next....

Christina

[Oana]

We can decide on a group read and see which gets the most votes. Anyone want to make some suggestions?

[Christina]

Oana wrote: "We can decide on a group read and see which gets the most votes. Anyone want to make some suggestions?"

Queen Isabella by Allison Weir,

1066: The Hidden History in the Bayeux Tapestry by Andrew Bridgeford

[Reg]

I thought that had been decided a couple of weeks ago.A
distant mirror by Barbara W. Tuchman.

[Christina]

Reg wrote: "I thought that had been decided a couple of weeks ago.A
distant mirror by Barbara W. Tuchman."

Oh I meant, after that one.... Sorry..

[Grizel]

I recently read Steven Runciman's `The Medieval Manichee'(about heretics) and was thinking of tackling either his history of the Crusades or his history of the Byzantine Empire. If anyone else is interested, that could be a future group read.

[Christina]

grizel wrote: "I recently read Steven Runciman's `The Medieval Manichee'(about heretics) and was thinking of tackling either his history of the Crusades or his history of the Byzantine Empire. If anyone else is i..."

Both of those sound interesting, although I am currently very interested in the crusades, so I'd prefer that one.

[Melisende]

Grizel - have read Runciman's "Crusades" - so happy to discuss.
Christina - have Bridgeford's "1066" - excellent read.

[Oana]

Queen Isabella was quite good too. I would be happy to post any of these as the next read.

[Grizel]

Oana wrote: "Queen Isabella was quite good too. I would be happy to post any of these as the next read."

so how do we come to a decision?

[Oana]

Ok, I added a poll based on your recommendations.

[Grizel]

The poll doesn't seem to be too popular. So far I'm the only one who has voted on it. Someone else please go and vote!

[Bryn]

Hi, I've just joined, though the group's been inactive. You never know who's around and shares your interests.

I'm near the end of a new book: The World Beyond Europe in the Romance Epics of Boiardo and Ariosto which is a wonderful event for me, as it marries my enthusiasms for these romances and for Mongol history. I'm also with Of Giants: Sex, Monsters, And The Middle Ages.

And The "History" of Beyhaqi: The History of Sultan Mas'ud of Ghazna, 1030-1041, Volume I: Introduction and Translation of Years 421-423 A.H..

[Sonya]

Hi Bryn

I wonder if you have read the book on medieval sex by John Boswell. It gave me a new perspective on the medieval mind. The title is Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality. You might like it too.

[Bryn]

Hi Sonya, thanks for the suggestion. I've heard about that book very often, as just about a classic. Link: Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality: Gay People in Western Europe from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Fourteenth Century. I don't know why I haven't read it... I've even read this and learnt a lot in the medieval parts: Homosexuality & Civilization.

I'll chase up that Boswell. About time.

[Sonya]

I am currently reading Snorri Sturluson "Prose Edda." Anyone else read it? Thankfully, I am finding some good YouTube videos on how to pronounce some of the names.

[Oana]

You're right! The group is pretty inactive though a few of us chip in and the rest of us probably all lurk. If anyone wants to join as a moderator if they want to be a bit more active here, let me know. I've been doing a lot of work on more recent history, so haven't had much time for anything medieval recently. :(

Bryn wrote: "Hi, I've just joined, though the group's been inactive. You never know who's around and shares your interests.

[George]

I read it a few years ago. Enjoyed it quite a bit. It connected more than a few dots for me. Here's my brief review for what it's worth

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Bryn wrote: "Hi Sonya, thanks for the suggestion. I've heard about that book very often, as just about a classic. Link: [book:Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality: Gay People in Western Europe from..."

[Sonya]

I agree with your review George. I definitely saw some connections with Tolkien.

I also thought the parts about the connections to the Greeks were strange. They tried to connect Troy and the Norse Gods. This was also done by the Romans with Aeneas. You could also see how they were trying to fit a little bit of Christianity into their stories, although I believe these parts are added at a later point.

[Sonya]

Just finished "Alfred the Great: The King and His England" by Eleanor Shipley Duckett (1956). I'd like to read an updated biography on Alfred. If anyone has any recommendations, I'd be happy to hear about them.

www.goodreads.com/book/show/510836.Al...

[A.E.]

I'm currently reading "House of Treason: The Rise and Fall of a Tudor Dynasty" by Robert Hutchinson. This is an awesome book so far. I have a hard time putting it down.

[Sonya]

A. E. Leger wrote: "I'm currently reading "House of Treason: The Rise and Fall of a Tudor Dynasty" by Robert Hutchinson. This is an awesome book so far. I have a hard time putting it down."

You may also like "The Uncrowned Kings of England: The Black History of the Dudleys and the Tudor Throne
by Derek Wilson" www.goodreads.com/book/show/919164.Th...

I really liked that one and recommend it.

[A.E.]

Sonya wrote: "A. E. Leger wrote: "I'm currently reading "House of Treason: The Rise and Fall of a Tudor Dynasty" by Robert Hutchinson. This is an awesome book so far. I have a hard time putting it down."


It looks really good. I'm going to try that one after I finish the one that I'm reading now. Thanks.

[Anna]

I'm currentely reading The Greatest Traitor: The Life of Sir Roger Mortimer, Ruler of England 1327-1330 by Ian Mortimer
I loved his 'The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England' and really want to read The Perfect King'. I have struggled getting into this book, perhaps because I am aware of events or because I haven't dedicated enough time to it, however it is an interesting read.

[Morena]

Anna wrote: "I'm currentely reading The Greatest Traitor: The Life of Sir Roger Mortimer, Ruler of England 1327-1330 by Ian Mortimer
I loved his 'The Time Traveller's Guide to Me..."
I am reading Queen Isabella (by Alison Weir) now. It should be basically called in defense of Isabella. Regardless of Weir's biased stance, I would like to read a fiction about Roger Mortimer because he is one of the few men that I would like to meet in person.

[Anna]

Adriana wrote: "Anna wrote: "I'm currentely reading The Greatest Traitor: The Life of Sir Roger Mortimer, Ruler of England 1327-1330 by Ian Mortimer
I loved his 'The Time Traveller'..."
Helen Castor covered Isabella well in her 'She Wolves'. I haven't read any fiction about Mortimer, I must admit I do not read fiction all that often, but Mortimer is certainly a fascinating character 'The Greatest Traitor' covers him in fantastic depth with a relatively balanced viewpoint.

[Shell]

I'm reading The Plantagenets: by Dan Jones. As I'm quite new to reading history books I'm finding that I'm having to read chapters a few times to try and get the relationships straight in my mind. A lot of people are added very quickly and it's easy to become lost. So far it's an excellent book. Would love to hear what anyone else is reading.

[Michael]

I am just finishing 'Henry III -The Son of Magna Carta' by Matthew Lewis. It is great introduction to the reign of Henry III 1207 -1272 , who became king at the age of nine in 1216.
Seems to be objective and informative. The first biography of Henry III I read was 'Henry III- The Great King England Never Knew It Had' which is magnificent, but hefty and thorough and maybe not the best to start with. Henry III had a long reign, with many different historical figures making an appearance. Will post a review soon.

[Michael]

One biography from last year which I found quite stimulating is Sophie Therese Ambler's 'The Song of Simon de Montfort, England's First Revolutionary and the Death of Chivalry' from 2019. Encouraged my recent obsession with 13th century history, but not convinced that de Montfort was a revolutionary. Perhaps the first politician
Have posted a review on my blog
https://13thcenturyhistory.blogspot.c...

[Michael]

A consequence of reading this book, and the references to the horrendous famine that struck England in 1258, got me motivated enough to research the famine . I came to some different conclusions from the author, not agreeing with her claim that there was a connection with climatic impact of the 1257 Samalas volcanic eruption in Indonesia
https://13thcenturyhistory.blogspot.c...

[T.J.]

Currently reading:
The Year 1000: When Explorers Connected the World—and Globalization Began

[Joachim]

I'm reading The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women , but I'd advise anyone to skip this one. While it introduces over 100 primary sources which are really interesting, the author spends most of the books words on jokes and "relatable" sketches that modernize the medieval personality. It's a pain to slog though.

I'm also reading Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages , which is probably my 5th general medieval overview. It goes more in-depth into some aspects which generally get skimmed over in other general introductions, like early muslim history (a good fourth of the book) and mercantile history. Would recommend.