Favorite medieval book

[gollum]

Hello Glenn, i haven't read the book you speak of. I have however read the History of the Empire in 3 vols by John Julious Norwich. While it is popularised history book, and written to be adressed to a western audience, it is very decent and well written as well as based on primary sources and a far more objective point of view towards Byzantium than earlier ones (Edward Gibbon etc). There is also a 1 vol version of the same book that is however far too synoptic to be really enjoyable - choose the long version that fills the gaps and make sense of events described rather than being a dry account of places, name and events.

John Julious Norwich has also written quite a few other books that are worthwhile, one for Mount Athos, the monastic peninsula that was the spiritual and philosophical center of the Empire in the Middle Ages, on the history of the Venetian Republic and on the Seljuk Turks as well as some books on historical architcture in which he was the chief editor.

[Gilrandir]

One more fiction book worth mentioning is Fair Margaret by Henry Rider Haggard. It is not that breathtaking, but pretty solid. It reminds me of Scott's Quentin Durward (similar romantic line).

[I of the Storm]

I have a little, obscure, yet amazing title to add here.
"Die Kinder der Finsternis" (eng.: The Badger of Ghissi) by Wolf von Niebelschütz. This is easily one of the best (if not the best IMHO) german historical novels. It takes place in a little (ficticious) county set between Provence and Spain in the 12th century, featuring all you can wish for: Al-Andalus in all it's cultural richness, southern France and its troubadour culture, love, hate, war, peace, faith, despair...
I don't know about the of the english translation, but the german original is of the highest quality, using a very rich, medieval-esque language (that might take some time getting used to but enhances the experience greatly) - whoever is able to should read the original (*pokes Glenn*)

My 2 cents (actually, it's a pearl, but you don't say that, do you?)

[gaijinalways]

I enjoyed Pillars of the earth, which I read a few years ago. I have heard of "The hundred years war" by Jonathan Sumption with three volumes ("Trial by battle", "Trial by fire" and "Divided houses"), and would like to purchase those. I'll check with one of the teachers I know and see if I can 'borrow' his copies or look to buy them.

[Tirpitz]

As far as non-fiction goes, A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara Tuchman (author of Guns of August) is a great read for anyone interested in the period. Historically factual novel with just enough narrative flourish to keep the reader engaged.