All Things Medieval discussion

I've been thinking about what the medieval reader would have enjoyed in their library. What would you have fancied reading? http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...

I think some books by that new humanist chapie, Giovanni Boccaccio. Quite new in his style.........

Harvey wrote: "I think some books by that new humanist chapie, Giovanni Boccaccio. Quite new in his style,,,,,,,,,,"

. Hmmmmm, could be an interesting addition, but better not let any abbots know he is in your library, lol!

Perish the thought! :))

Of course any self-respecting abbot might go for Bartolomeo Scappi's cookery book. :)

I'm thinking you will have a most interesting and diverse library. I may have to borrow your cookery book some time. Although it may not be necessary as I shall be applying to Eleanor of Aquitaine in the hope that she may take me on as one of her ladies. I have facebook contact with her, you know, lol! She is a most forward looking Lady. I shall try to impress her with my little ditty written in her honour. I feel sure that, wherever she may be confined at the time, she will have a magnificent library to borrow from. Although it may be a little tedious, apart from the cookery books, if it is an Abbey library. If I happen into the far parts where your library is, I promise to tell no-one of your hidden books. I should love to hear more ideas to add to the library. Do feel free to come and post your selection on my blog :)

I will indeed be happy to visit your blog; there is of course another Italian cookbook of a similar date, though the name escapes me at the moment. Forme of Cury (King Richard II's cookery book)is a must. There is also a fair literature on the culinary arts written in Arabic; Kitab al-Tabikh (Book of Dishes) by Ibn Sayyar al-Warraq and a later work of the same name by Muhammad bin Hasan al-Baghdadi.
Yes, I do love cooking! Also in Arabic, though nothing to do with cooking is Kalila wa Dimna by Ibn Muqaffa, though Abu Ja`far al-Mansur can be said to have cooked Ibn Muqaffa's goose in a rather unpleasant manner.