Medieval Lives

Nobody played a more defining role in casting the popular image of medieval knights than Richard the Lionheart, one of the most famous English kings and crusaders. In many respects, it was ironic that Richard became one of the central characters of the Middle Ages, and his very popular legacy today belies centuries of controversy. Richard I Plantagenet (1157-1199), nicknamed "Coeur de Lion" (Lionheart), eventually became King of England, Grand Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Poitou, and Duke of Anjou, but as the third son in a large family, he did not expect to or even want to rule England.

The legend of the famous hero Robin Hood originates in dramatic pieces and ballads from the 15th century in England. His story has been given shape and retold through the centuries, and is still universally known to children nowadays. "The Tales of Robin Hood and his Merry Men", as retold by Mary Macleod, is a faithful rendition of the original medieval legend full of colorful and moral adventures. It is read by Katie Haigh, for the delight of children and as well as adults sensitive to literary style.

Hidden Hands tells the stories of the artisans, artists, scribes and readers, patrons and collectors who made and kept the beautiful, fragile objects that have survived the ravages of fire, water and deliberate destruction to form a picture of both English culture and the wider European culture of which it is part. Without manuscripts, she shows, many historical figures would be lost to us, as well as those of lower social status, women and people of colour, their stories erased and the remnants of their labours destroyed.

Cordelia and her triplets, Rosalind and Giles, have lived safely in the castle at the centre of the forest all their lives, protected by the spells their mother has woven. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is when she turns into a dragonfly or a blackbird and can fly beyond the great stone walls. But then one day, the outside world comes to them. Two rival dukes and their soldiers have come for the triplets - because whoever is the eldest is the heir to the throne.

Being a matchmaking ghost isn’t easy, especially when you're tasked with getting your widow, a warrior woman, together with a brooding, hardened knight…who both care more about war than love. Nesta’s family urges the fiery, middle-aged widow to get a new husband to protect the villa, but she can take care of the villa herself. So, Instead, she grabs her deceased husband's longsword and joins the 15-year-old war leader, Arthur, to battle Saxons. There she meets the dark warrior, Ulfin. Ulfin is Arthur’s champion. And, so skilled in hand-to-hand combat, he has never lost a fight. ...

Today is a gift - that’s why it’s called the present, or as Ella Wheeler Wilcox says, it’s the "privilege". This timeless poetical work of art is reminiscent of Shakespeare’s "All the World’s a Stage", for both poems chronicle the various stages of life, however, this one ends with an air of optimism and sage advice. The poem was first published in the early 1900s and is every bit as relevant today as it was at the time of its conception. "Life Is a Privilege" is a mental elevator laced with exquisite poetic devices. Nutritional psychological food for the soul.

Between the infamous Lindisfarne raid in 793 CE and the Norman conquest of 1066, the peoples we know now as the Vikings became one of the most far-ranging and influential civilizations in history. The Vikings are frequently portrayed as raiders, marauding across medieval Europe and Britain, but the culture and society of the medieval Nordic peoples was so much more diverse, multifaceted and influential than it is often depicted.

In 14th-century England, on the day that William Wallace of Scotland was executed, King Edward I knighted one of his faithful warriors, Walter de Burton. At the same time, Sir de Burton’s son, Milton, was a squire to the king and later realized his dream of riding with his father in formation. Christian faith and Scripture passages intersperse this story, along with a warning from Sir de Burton to his son that the church frowned upon anyone other than clergy reading the Holy Scriptures.

This novel is a virtual time machine that takes the reader back to 11th century England - the time of Saxon domination before and after the disastrous Battle of Hastings in 1066. Step directly into the footsteps of Cuthwin of Alnwick. There are few “great men or women” in this historical novel, but instead the story of an ordinary man and his wife who work to survive.

When the filly is eventually given to a titled baron in the castle town of Athenry, Lara, determined to stay with the horse no matter what, goes along. Together, she and her beloved horse face seemingly insurmountable challenges, but all along Lara keeps two things in mind. One day, she will manage to flee, and will set off in search of the family that she was taken from. And she will not leave without her silver mare.

Cat Sparrow is on the road. She's following her sister, Meg, who was torn from their convent home and sent to London. But Cat isn't like other people - she thinks differently - and for a girl like her the world holds many perils. Luckily she befriends a young actor, Jacques, and together they follow Meg's trail to a wondrous place called the Field of Cloth of Gold. But here, they discover that the kingdoms of England and France are both in terrible danger....

The most famous man of the Middle Ages was probably Charlemagne, and few would argue that he was also the most important man during those centuries. When Charlemagne became king of the Franks, he proceeded to create one of the largest European empires since the collapse of Rome. Through his conquests across Western Europe and Italy, Charlemagne became the first holy Roman emperor after a famous imperial coronation by Pope Leo III.

Genghis Khan is one of history's greatest and most famous conquerors. No man, before or since, has ever started with so little and gone on to achieve so much. From a noble family, but raised in poverty that drove him to the brink of starvation, Genghis Khan rose to control the second-largest empire the world has ever known. Genghis Khan was not a peaceful man, nor a particularly merciful one, but the image of him as a bloodthirsty barbarian is largely the result of hostile propaganda; he was far more complex.

William Shakespeare is a name that every English speaking person has heard. He is considered to be the most famous English man, the greatest playwright in history and a literary genius. However, how much do you really know about Shakespeare other than the fact that he wrote Romeo and Juliet? Do you know what he really looked like? That he invented a lot of the words that you use when you write your next social media post?