Medieval Writings

Anselm of Canterbury: The Monk Who Shaped Medieval Thought Unlock the secrets of a mind that bridged faith and reason, leaving an indelible mark on the tapestry of medieval thought. Dive into the life and legacy of Anselm of Canterbury, a scholar whose ideas continue to resonate through the ages. Discover the Life of a Visionary From his humble beginnings in Aosta to his rise as Archbishop of Canterbury, Anselm’s journey is one of relentless pursuit of truth and knowledge. Immerse yourself in the historical context of the 11th century, a time of great upheaval and transformation for the ...

This famous work by Lucretius is a masterpiece of didactic poetry, and it still stands today as the finest exposition of Epicurean philosophy ever written. The poem was produced in the middle of first century B.C., a period that was to witness a flowering of Latin literature unequaled for beauty and intellectual power in subsequent ages. The Latin title, De Rerum Natura, translates literally to On the Nature of Things and is meant to impress the reader with the breadth and depth of Epicurean philosophy.

Ostensibly written by an English knight, The Book of Marvels and Travels claim to recount his experiences in Egypt, the Levant, India, and China. It describes a journey from Europe to Jerusalem and further into Asia, and the many weird and wonderful peoples and practices of the East. The author claims to have traveled in land populated by Amazons, dog-headed people, cannibals, one-footed tribes, and Pygmies.

What if the most mysterious book in the world is not hidden in a cave, buried in a tomb, or locked away in legend—but sitting in plain sight, still unread after centuries? The Voynich Manuscript for Beginners is a clear, fascinating guide to the strange medieval book that has baffled scholars, cryptographers, historians, linguists, and curious readers for generations. Written in an unknown script and filled with impossible plants, mysterious diagrams, zodiac-like circles, strange bathing figures, and pages of unreadable text, the Voynich Manuscript remains one of the greatest unsolved ...

March, 1366. Amid the chaos of a war-torn Spain, Geoffrey Chaucer—page to King Edward III and the son of a wine merchant—finds himself thrust into the heart of a boiling conflict between two brothers: King Pedro the Cruel of Castile and his half-brother, Enrique Trastámara. But Chaucer’s task is far from simple. Sent as a reluctant spy by the king, he must locate the elusive mercenary Sir Hugh Calveley and persuade him to change sides in a war that could alter the fate of kingdoms.

Five stand-alone historical novels. Five centuries of Italian history. One collection to learn Italian by reading real stories, not textbook dialogues. From a gladiator school in Caesar's Rome to Leonardo's workshop in Florence, from the barricades of Garibaldi's Italy to the deck of Columbus's Santa Maria and a convent scriptorium copying the last cantos of Dante's Paradiso — each novel in Testimoni d'Italia puts an invented witness inside a real historical moment, at the exact point where one ordinary life brushes against a name everyone knows. BOOK 1 — Il Lupo di Cesare. Rome, 59 BC....

The history of Western thought contains hundreds of statements by philosophers testifying to the use of esoteric writing in their own work or others'. Despite this well-documented history, however, esotericism is often dismissed today as a rare occurrence. But by ignoring esotericism, we risk cutting ourselves off from a full understanding of Western philosophical thought. Arthur M. Melzer serves as our guide in this engaging history of philosophical esotericism. Walking listeners through both an ancient and a modern esoteric work, he explains what esotericism is - and is not. 

Lord Dunavin has survived the night of bloodshed and stands upon the dawn of a new day. Filled with varying emotions as he receives news of the war's result and the expected actions of the remaining leadership, he faces physical weariness along with an even greater conflict of mind and soul. As the brave and thoughtful knight wrestles mentally and philosophically over what the changes of war mean for his future and that of his city, he has the opportunity to voice his thoughts to those who will hear him. Does anyone understand his real conflict? Now that the city is safe because of his ...

'I was completely hooked and considerably moved by the life and thoughts of this exceptional woman' - JEREMY IRONS 'It is as if we have finally found the lost autobiography of one of the medieval world's most important women.' - JANINA RAMIREZ 'A beautiful, intensely moving achievement' - A.N...

Ravenna, around 1318. Sister Chiara is the fastest copyist in her convent's scriptorium. For four years, loose pages have arrived from an exiled Florentine poet — no title, no name — and copying every canto twice, without meaning to, she has learned the whole poem by heart. When the poet dies in 1321, the final thirteen cantos of his Paradiso are nowhere to be found. Chiara realizes she may be the only living person who can restore them from memory — and starts writing, by candlelight, what she can never admit to knowing. This is a graded reader for intermediate learners of Italian (...

Piran Chegwin had known since he was just a boy that he wanted to be a priest—to bring comfort and care to ordinary folk in a little parish church. So when his father manages to scrape together the money for him to study theology at Oxford, it seems his future is set. That is, until he encounters Martin de Villiers, an ambitious, self-important fellow student who takes an instant dislike to Piran. Piran's only offense? Having been born a Cornishman. But to Martin's eyes, it's an offense that must be set right.

Of all the Catholic Church’s great saints, few are as venerated as Saint Francis of Assisi. The founder of one of the largest religious orders in the Catholic Church today, his is a story that captivates the faithful and historians alike. This biographical work is a window into that incredible tale. Author Nick Pascoe unspools the remarkable story of the saint and his Franciscan Order with captivating prose and thorough historical research. Delve into the history of Saint Francis in The Canticle of the Sun: The Life of Saint Francis of Assisi and the Birth of the Franciscan Order by Nick ...

The old Duke of Brittany had vacillated for years over who would succeed him and finally settles in his will on his half-brother, John de Montfort. But the years of vacillation had left others believing the ducal crown would pass to them, and no one understands this better than Montfort's wife, Jeanne de Flandre. When the schemes and political maneuvers of the Countess of Penthièvre land Montfort in the French king's prison, it falls to Jeanne to defend his rights to the duchy and protect their son's patrimony.

This highly entertaining travelogue from a bestselling author follows the adventures of a couple on their 102-mile hike along Britain’s famous Cotswold Way. Wendy and David, escaping the routine of home life, embark on a journey of wonder and discovery. It is one filled with romance, exquisite beauty, hilarious mishaps, and far more adventure than they had bargained for. Join them in the magic and fulfillment of this delightful journey from Chipping Campden in the north to the stunning city of Bath in the south. Wander through wildflower fields of kaleidoscopic colour, enter entranced ...

Isabella wants to come home—a rather innocuous request—unless you're the king and Isabella is the aunt whose mental instability led her own father to banish her from the kingdom. Her arrival, unbidden, on the steps of the castle opens old wounds and forces Alfred to examine his grandfather's decision.

Scotland, 1455. As a child, Highlander Malcolm Maclean has visions he cannot explain. When he predicts a major victory in battle for King James the Second, he is summoned to Edinburgh castle to officially meet the king and predict his future. Much to his dismay, the king rewards him with Douglas lands and a future Douglas bride, a Lowlander! Scotland, 1468. Malcolm Maclean is now a man—a leader and a battle-seasoned warrior. He has put off taking a bride he doesn’t want long enough. Not wishing to draw royal ire, he must honor a dead king’s wishes and marry Sorcha Douglas, a woman ...

Bloomsbury presents The Cuckoo's Lea: The Forgotten History of Birds and Place by Michael J. Warren, read by John Sackville Birds have long inspired our emotional and imaginative connections to physical environments, but where did it all begin? Hidden in the names of English towns and villages...

"Jameson's strength lies in her worldbuilding...she demonstrates a solid knowledge of Highlands history and lore....a strong Highland romance." Booklife/Publishers Weekly 1447. Winter has wrapped its icy fingers around the Highlands. The MacKinnon clan is in chaos. Weakened by battle losses, treachery, and a lack of leadership, a Hogmanay celebration turns ugly as clan members decide to burn a witch at the stake—one of their very own, Isobel MacKinnon, a castle servant with the Sight. As flame is about to be touched to the kindling at her feet, five warriors appear in the snowy night, ...

In spring 1095, Christian and Emelye make love for the first time. When it is announced Christian must fulfill his obligation to marry Lady Arianna the lovers know their dream of bring together is over. Months later Emelye realizes she is with child but refuses to tell anyone who the father is and is exiled from the home and family she loves. Emelye suffers the ultimate pain a mother can feel and is left without the man she loves and the child they created. The arrival of Christian and his newborn daughter gives Emelye a purpose. Christian is being forced to join the crusade and decides to ...

Duke Boleslav, brother to Wenceslas, reveals to his young son his own life's dreadful tale, and why this boy must dedicate his life to his father's salvation. Pagan priests vie with one another and with the growing power of Christianity. Prague is a trading center with an important slave market, a thriving iron industry, and is a crossroads of far-reaching trade routes. It is growing in wealth, yet threatened by jealous enemies and forces, both external and within its borders.