All Things Medieval discussion

Hello, I am Nona love history and reading and thought why hasn't a thread been started yet regarding the Medeival period.

Hi Nona, what a good idea. You know I love all things medieval. My favorite authors are Penman and Chadwick in this period. I also enjoyed Susan's The Traitor's Wife, Pargeter's Heaven Tree Trilogy and of course Brian Wainwright's Within the Fetterlock.

Hi, Nona and Misfit! I'm Lauren and I'm so glad I stumbled across this group - an excellent idea :) I'm really interested in the medieval period too, as well as many other periods (bit of a history fanatic) but my knowledge on it is (for now, anyway) not that great.

I like the occasional bit of historical fiction but am more interested in the absolute facts.

Don't worry Lauren I'm no expert but am eager to learn and what better way then talk and ask questions?

by the way it was kinda a last minute idea to do this so any suggestions would be nice for topics and such.

Thanks for the invitation to join this group.

Thanks for the invitation! My favorite periods are the late 13th century through the Wars of the Roses. Some of my favorites novelists are Sharon Penman, Juliet Dymoke, Jean Plaidy (though I prefer her Tudor novels) and Brenda Honeyman/Brenda Clarke. I also enjoy reading nonfiction about this period.

Thanks for starting the group Nona and thanks to Misfit for inviting me. I've been trying to accumulate European Royalty from the medieval age through the Tudors and Stuarts. I need the most help with book suggestions during the medieval period, so please share.

Thanks for the invite, Misfit - I find the whole period fascinating.

Thanks for the invite! Happy to be here.

Thanks for inviting me Misfit! Nona thanks for having the group. I am born inthe US. I have lived most of my life in Sweden, but am currently living in Belgium. I like learning about different countries, cultures and history.

Hi all :) Chrissie, I envy your travels! I would love to visit Belgium properly, Bruges especially. My only encounter is a quick detour whilst in France so's my dad could buy some cheap tobacco :P

no problem I thought it would be nice to have a place to disuss the era, if you have any suggestions please feel free to add them or let me know.

Lauren, one thing that is very nice about Belgium is that it is situated near so many other countries. We adore France, particularly Brittany! French or Dutch languages are used in Belgium, so I have learned French. We were interested in seeing France, so we could use the French, and fell in love with Brittany! OK Italy is nice too, put it is further and we don't know Italian!

Yes, Brittany's lovely. My brother lives there and I went to stay last summer.
You're right, it must be cool to be around all those countries, just able to drive into them. I live in the UK so that means a ferry or aeroplane crossing. Meh.
Do people still speak Flemish there?

Oh yes, In Belgium one speaks French and Flemish (Dutch). German is also acknosleged along the German border. MANY Flemish people want to split this teeny country into two parts. Currently the Flemish are more affluent. The problem is Brussels - both want that! But I love England too. Scotland and the Cotswolds and the Lake area. NICE!

Well, I guess I'm breathing new life into this topic...

Hello, all. I'm Miranda, a soon-to-be sophomore at Gettysburg College and a religion major. (Alas, no Medieval/Renaissance Studies in my school.) The existence of this group has made me so unbelievably happy, so thank you for creating it!

I specialize (if that's the right word) in theology and medieval religious life, particularly monasticism, and among my friends I'm kind of the go-to person as far as old Catholic traditions are concerned. :) I've taken Latin for five years and can pick out a bit of Middle High German; one day I hope to add Old English to this list.

I'm always looking for great fiction set in the Middle Ages -- I've read Umberto Eco, The Pillars of the Earth, and Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series, but if anyone has other suggestions that would be wonderful!

Wow, welcome Miranda why did you choose to study medeival religion and theology? Now I know where I can got with all my religious questions :)

here is another site some of us are on also that you might really like www.historicalfictiononline.com

Well, I have always thought that medieval theology and mysticism were so rich and colorful, and most of modern Catholicism's theology was developed at that time thanks to clerics like Thomas Aquinas. I'm Catholic, so it's easy to find spiritual roots in the past. Plus I find monks and nuns fascinating -- their lifestyles, outlook, spirituality, and so on. My knowledge about the MA is a bit biased in favor of the clergy for that reason, I'm afraid... :\

Thanks for the link! I will definitely have a look at the forums.

Oh my goodness! Just found my way over here!!!

Robin wrote: "Oh my goodness! Just found my way over here!!!"

Glad you found us :)

Welcome Robin, hope you enjoy it.

Hi everyone! Misfit kindly invited me to join so I did. I work as an economic historian and my primary focus is 20th century Germany (Weimar Republic/the Great Depression/the Nazi period) with a strong interest in the contemporaneous USSR, but I’m a huge history buff in general, so I like to read about other places and times in addition to what I work on.

As for the medieval period, a cursory glance through the posts tells me that we seem to be a bit Anglocentric here :P Nothing wrong with that, but my interests lie a bit further east – in Italy, Byzantium and the Islamic world. Of course, thanks to the Crusades and Crusaders sacking Byzantium, there’s a fair bit of English history that takes place in Outremer anyway!

Hi everyone I just saw this group. I'm still in school snd very interestedin the middle-age. My special interests are the crusades and the asian/chinese middle-age.
Things that interests me most about the crusades are the muslim world and espacially Saladin(Salah ad-Din).

Things that interests me most about the crusades are the muslim world and espacially Saladin(Salah ad-Din).
"

This is quite an amazing coincidence, because I am currently reading The Book of Saladin by Tariq Ali. I'm only about 20 pages in, so can't really judge how good it is, but it's told in a kind of "Arabian Nights" style, which I find interesting.

i wish u much fun at reading...don't know the book but if it's historicaly correct u'll see why i find Saladin the most interesting among all other famous persons of that time.^^

Bibliophile wrote: "Hi everyone! Misfit kindly invited me to join so I did. I work as an economic historian and my primary focus is 20th century Germany (Weimar Republic/the Great Depression/the Nazi period) with a ..."

Bibliophile, there are many of us in this group who are also in the Group European Royalty. That group also has a lot on medieval times and there is a whole section concerned with other places in the world than the British Isles. We discus there books on Asia, the Americas etc. So the name of the group is quite deceptive. And we do not just stick to Royalty! I like reading about ALL other cultures, commoners and royalty, current and past issues. I think history is the key to current times and differet cultures! There are many of us here with this belief! Not too long ago I read Tariq Ali's Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree and enjoyed it!

I'm back after several months away from Historical Fiction, I was reading alot of Supernatural/Gothic stuff. I'm glad to be back to my love. It's not medieval but I'm currently reading Duchessina a novel of Catherine De Medici by Carolyn Meyer.

Hello all! It's great to find this group. I see there's already one Robin here, so mark me as Robin1129.

* - Miranda, I've also read the Brother Cadfael series, and I'd be interested to know your thoughts as to whether they accurately represent medieval monastic life.

Hello everyone - I'm Jan living in England, I love historical fiction with a special fondness for Medieval times.

As well as enjoying reading I hoard books and love to add to my already immense tbr mountain which is so big I'll never read it all if I stop adding to it now and live to be 100 !

You are definitely in the right place. We are serious book addicts here :)

Hi, my name is Elizabeth and I have just joined. I stumbled across this site whilst doing some research for my classes. I take my hat off to all writers of medieval fiction, they research SO well that they frequently teach me more than any dry and dusty academic book can do! :)) I love Michael Jecks, Candace Robb and of course Ellis Peters for my medieval side and for sheer pleasurable indulgence, Terry Pratchett and David Eddings. That said, I am a total medievalist and nothing exists after 1500 CE! :)

Welcome Lleuadyddraig, I think I speak for all of us when I say we all enjoy a great medieval read. There are plenty of great authors out there that write medieval so hopefully you find more to enjoy.

Nona wrote: "Welcome Lleuadyddraig, I think I speak for all of us when I say we all enjoy a great medieval read. There are plenty of great authors out there that write medieval so hopefully you find more to enjoy."

Yes, unfortunately, you are going to be INCREDIBLY bad for my pocket!!!

well it's almost Christmas, maybe we could start dropping hints? and between our pocketbooks and christmas get a few wishlist items out of the way.

Well met folks.
Just found this group and recognise a bunch of you from other ones, hello again one and all.
Wallowing in Arthurian bits and bobs at the minute, and by knock on effect also 100 years war (by way of Thomas Malory).
Amongst other things I'm very interested in the crusades and Scots/Irish Hx.

Hi Barbarossa, so you are here too! Are you one for not liking clutter? Ooops, in that case! I sometimes get off track and clutter ;0)

G'day everyone! I'm Melisende. Absolutely love history and especially biographies (of the women of history!). Particular areas of history include: celtic, anglo-saxon & medieval periods. Looking forward to contributing to discussions.

Hi Melisende, glad you found us and welcome to Goodreads. Its a fun place.

Hi everyone!
Here's another history afficionada. My name is Manuela and I'm from Portugal. I'm specially keen on Medieval and Ancient history, and on Military, Religious and Social and Cultural themes.
I don't know if I'm going to be around very often but I'll try to pop in once in a while.
See you guys around!

welcome Manuela! glad you joined us.

Welcome Manuela! It is a great site, hope you can say something contentious to get the mind running up to speed!

Thanks Nona and Harvey.

Hmmm, something contentious...? I'll have to think about that one, Harvey. We could always discuss who was the most enlightened ruler of the age, I don't know, or the bloodier... that always seems to get a discussion going.

Yes! I think the idea of the most enlightened would be most interesting. Main thing is; welcome aboard!

welcome Stephen glad to see you here among us medieval fanatics. I'm jealous that you got to make it a part of your undergrad studies. I hope you enjoy your time here.

Hi Diana - you can never go wrong with Sharon Kay Penman and Elizabeth Chadwick. They are my two favorites in this genre.

if you tend to like more medieval romance Annette Motley or Katheine Deauxville have some really good ones out there but Chadwick and Penman dominate in historical fiction.

Hi, I just joined the group. I got hooked on the medieval period last year after I read Katherine by Anya Seton. I've since read several other historical fiction books and a handful of medieval non-fiction - currently on Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir. I am also especially drawn to medieval art

welcome susan! Alison Weir has some great books about many interesting people thhrough out history. Have you read Sharon Penman or Elizabeth Chadwick? both are my top two favorite authors when it comes to medieval, you'll see I brag about them alot.

Hi Nona - I haven't read Elizabeth Chadwick yet (but probably will soon). I started to read When Christ and His Saints Slept by Penman earlier this year but just couldn't get into it. I think it was because I was rooting for Maude but already knew that it didn't work out for her. But I am looking forward to reading it again sometime, as well as other SKP books.

try her Welsh triology, Here Be Dragons, Falls the Shadow and the Reckoning. They were my first Penman reads and they grabbed me and sucked me in. I stayed up late into the night for a month so I could read as much as possible.

Elizabeth Chadwick has a gift with words, some of her books are on well known historical figures and some are of fictional characters, either way she brings the sights, sounds and emotions of the time to life. My favorites are the Champion, The Conquest, The Marsh Kings Daughter and Lords of White Castle.