Medieval English

What if the courage of one man could change the world? In 1415, Jan Hus was burned at the stake for challenging the corruption of the Catholic Church and standing by his convictions. His sacrifice ignited a movement, inspired the Reformation, and laid the groundwork for ideas that still shape our world today. What would you sacrifice for the truth? In a world dominated by corruption and fear, Jan Hus stood alone. A century before Martin Luther, this courageous Bohemian preacher challenged the Catholic Church’s authority, exposing its moral failings and advocating for equality, justice, ...

In the aftermath of the 1746 Battle of Culloden near Inverness, Arran MacLeod returns home, his face scarred from the conflict, causing even children to flee from him in fear. He discovers that his father has arranged his marriage to Rowena Munro, a local woman with impaired vision, in exchange for a substantial dowry and land. Rowena's companion, who accompanies her, instantly takes a dislike to Arran. Resistant to the idea of marriage, Arran is reluctant to be bound, especially to someone he faintly recalls as a lanky, unremarkable girl from his past. His frustration intensifies upon ...

AD 865. The fierce Vikings stormed onto Saxon soil hungry for spoils, conquest, and vengeance for the death of Ragnar Lothbrok. Hundr, a Northman with a dog's name...a crew of battle hardened warriors...and Ivar the Boneless. Amidst the invasion of Saxon England by the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok, Hundr joins a crew of Viking warriors under the command of Einar the Brawler. Hundr fights to forge a warriors reputation under the glare of Ivar and his equally fearsome brothers, but to do that he must battle the Saxons and treachery from within the Viking army itself...

The foundations of modern knowledge - philosophy, math, astronomy, geography - were laid by the Greeks, whose ideas were written on scrolls and stored in libraries across the Mediterranean and beyond. But as the vast Roman Empire disintegrated, so did appreciation of these precious texts. Christianity cast a shadow over so-called pagan thought, books were burned, and the library of Alexandria, the greatest repository of classical knowledge, was destroyed. Yet some texts did survive and The Map of Knowledge explores the role played by seven cities around the Mediterranean....

A hidden legacy. A guarded heart. A destiny neither of them saw coming. When a mysterious visitor arrives, Sorcha Hay’s world is turned upside down—she’s not just a commoner, but a descendant of the great Robert the Bruce. Overnight, everything changes. Ian Murray, sworn to serve the Laird and haunted by secrets of his own, never planned to lose his heart. Yet when he finds Sorcha vulnerable and alone, something stirs deep within him—a need to protect her, even if it risks everything he’s sworn to keep hidden. Sorcha never imagined she'd fall for the one man she once found ...

The Mongol army led by Genghis Khan subjugated more lands and people in 25 years than the Romans did in 400. In nearly every country the Mongols conquered, they brought an unprecedented rise in cultural communication, expanded trade, and a blossoming of civilization.

Bastard daughter to the king, Rosamunde was raised in a convent and wholly prepared to take the veil...until King Henry declared she would wed Aric, one of his most valiant knights. Suddenly she found herself promising to love, honor, and obey. Rosamunde's education had not covered a wedding night, but the handsome warrior she was now bound to seemed intent on giving her a lesson in the art of pleasure. In no time, Aric was certain, she would surrender to the irresistible passion he promised.

Since ancient times, accounts of supernatural activity have mystified us. Ghost stories as we know them did not develop until the late 19th century, but the restless dead haunted the premodern imagination in many forms, as recorded in historical narratives, theological texts, and personal letters. The Penguin Book of the Undead teems with roving hordes of dead warriors, corpses trailed by packs of barking dogs, moaning phantoms haunting deserted ruins, evil spirits emerging from burning carcasses in the form of crows, and zombies with pestilential breath.

To get a fresh start away from a bad relationship, Kylie Strange moves across the country to open a shop in a seemingly quiet town in rural Maine. During renovations on Strange Herbs & Teas, she discovers a peculiar and ancient codex, The Booke of the Hidden, bricked into the wall. Every small town has its legends and unusual histories, and this artifact sends Kylie right into the center of Moody Bog's biggest secret.

“I've summoned you because you're the only man I could ever fully trust with Nathalia's virtue. You're my foster brother and best friend. I need someone to protect and guard Nathalia, and I can think of no one else I would trust with this.” Sir Kay is a retired Knight of the Round Table. For the last decade, he's lived alone in a coastal cottage, taking odd jobs and drinking too much. After many years of solitude, Kay gets an unexpected summons from King Arthur, his foster brother and old friend. What could King Arthur possibly need from him after all this time? King Arthur is living in...

Derryth MacClaren is on the run - having been sent from her castle home to avoid capture by the vicious nobleman known as the Wolf, who has vowed revenge against the Clan Kincaid. When a surprise attack leaves her vulnerable, Derryth ends up in the hands of an enemy warrior who claims her, with the Wolf's blessing, as his prize.

A deadly killer stalks the rain-soaked streets of Shinbone, spreading panic and terror among the townsfolk. The authorities are baffled, partly because there hasn’t been a single crime in Shinbone for more than a hundred years but mostly because this particular deadly killer… …isn’t actually killing anyone. Enter Hieronymous Blush, master magician and the detective responsible for solving the mystery of The Lickspittle Leviathan. Can one man stand alone against the demonic threat of The Shinbone Shadowhunter? Of course not: he can’t even tie his own shoes. The race is on….

Lost Enlightenment recounts how, between the years 800 and 1200, Central Asia led the world in trade and economic development, the size and sophistication of its cities, the refinement of its arts, and, above all, in the advancement of knowledge in many fields. Central Asians achieved signal breakthroughs in astronomy, mathematics, geology, medicine, chemistry, music, social science, philosophy, and theology, among other subjects.

An amateur magician’s disappearing act lands her in medieval Scotland. Although Isabel Murray loves a good joke, she can hardly believe the elaborate prank of finding herself in an ancient forge. But things get a little more real when its bad-tempered armorer hauls her in front of the rest of the MacRoss warriors. Despite the entire clan being completely charmed by Isabel, Camdyn keeps her at arm’s length. Not only is he busy making weapons, but he’s sworn off women. Little by little though, the quirky lass works inside his defenses as the two try to learn what the Fire Sword has ...

"Thomas Aquinas’s Angelology in Action" offers a captivating exploration of the celestial beings that bridge the divine and the earthly. Drawing on the profound insights of St. Thomas Aquinas, this book unveils the rich tapestry of angelology, delving into the nature, hierarchy, and roles of angels in the grand cosmic order. From the fiery Seraphim and wise Cherubim to guardian angels who walk beside us, Aquinas’s theology illuminates these radiant minds as messengers, protectors, and agents of God’s providence. Blending medieval theology with timeless spiritual truths, this book ...

Oxford, Autumn 1353. St. Frideswide's Fair is a great annual event in Oxford, bringing together merchants and buyers from all over England and Wales, and from as far away as Flanders and France. Yet the earnings from the fair, granted to the Priory of St. Frideswide centuries before, are resented by the town, and resentment can turn to violence. Under the unscrupulous Prior de Hungerford, even more trouble is brewing.

The Dogs discover that gamblers are bringing the counterfeit money from Port Caynn. In Port Caynn, Beka delves deep into the gambling world, where she meets a charming banking clerk named Dale Rowan. Beka thinks she may be falling for Rowan, but she won't let anything - or anyone - jeopardize her mission. As she heads north to an abandoned silver mine, it won't be enough for Beka be her usual terrier self. She'll have to learn from Achoo to sniff out the criminals, to be a Bloodhound.

The word medieval conjures images of the “Dark Ages”. But the myth of darkness obscures the truth; this was a remarkable period in human history. The Bright Ages recasts the European Middle Ages for what it was, capturing this 1,000-year era in all its complexity and fundamental humanity, bringing to light both its beauty and its horrors. The Bright Ages takes us through 10 centuries and crisscrosses Europe and the Mediterranean, Asia, and Africa, revisiting familiar people and events with new light cast upon them.

Thomas Cahill tells the story of how Europe evolved from the classical age of Rome to the medieval era. Without Ireland, the transition could not have taken place. Not only did Irish monks and scribes maintain the very record of Western civilization, they brought their uniquely Irish world-view to the task. As Cahill delightfully illustrates, so much of the liveliness we associate with medieval culture has its roots in Ireland. When the seeds of culture were replanted on the European continent, it was from Ireland that they were germinated.

How have the crusades contributed to Islamist rage and terrorism today? Were the crusades the Christian equivalent of modern jihad? In this sweeping yet crisp history, Thomas F. Madden offers a brilliant and compelling narrative of the crusades and their contemporary relevance.