Medieval History
I know there is a large faction of dusty old medievalists who turn their noses at historical fiction. I think its a shame, really, because anything that can bring the Middle Ages alive in the imagination is a positive thing. Even if the facts aren't (more or less - who can tell all the time?) accurate.
Thankfully, Philippa Gregory is famously well-researched author, and I believe she really 'gets' the Middle Ages, if that makes sense. Don't let the popularity (and the movie) of 'The Other Bolyn Girl' put you off, she's a fun read.
I am just finishing her book 'Lady of the Rivers,' and I loved it. It had so many elements, ideas and topics I love. First, there are many references to tapestries, and in fact references to The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries (!). The idea of women using magic and alchemy as a form of power is fascinating, and I think has many unexplored avenues in the world of art. Lastly, the main character has a happy and long marriage. How often do we find that in media today?
This was my favorite read so far this year, I give it an A!
- Lists
There are works of art I could look at every day and never tire of. This is different than a 'favorite works' list because you can have a favorite work of art and be sick of looking at it. This list is made up of works that you could hang on your...
- Lions In Fifteenth Century French Tapestries
I recently had this question e-mailed to me, and I thought I would post both the question and my answer. Q: "Can anyone tell me why the lion looks so odd in the Sight tapestry. It looks like a monkey...In looking at the series the lion's face is really...
- For Your Eyes Only: Lionheart By Sharon Kay Penman
Lionheart by Sharon Kay Penman What rating does one give a book that was not only not read to the end, but was only read to 60 pages? Only on special occasions do I actually give a rating to a book if I have not made it to around 100 pages - or in the...
- Some Thoughts On Our Lady Of London
One of my favourite images of Our Lady is the poster 'Our Lady of London' which was designed in 1935 by Martin Travers. I took this photo of it from a surviving copy hanging in a Nottinghamshire church. Our Lady has twelve stars around her...
- A Defaced Medieval Reredos - Notgrove, Gloucestershire
The east wall behind the high altar of the tiny little estate church at Notgrove in Gloucestershire is generally covered with a large tapestry, which was made in 1954. If you pull it up, and there is a little pulley to help you, you reveal this: the...
Medieval History
Lady of the Rivers
Thankfully, Philippa Gregory is famously well-researched author, and I believe she really 'gets' the Middle Ages, if that makes sense. Don't let the popularity (and the movie) of 'The Other Bolyn Girl' put you off, she's a fun read.
I am just finishing her book 'Lady of the Rivers,' and I loved it. It had so many elements, ideas and topics I love. First, there are many references to tapestries, and in fact references to The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries (!). The idea of women using magic and alchemy as a form of power is fascinating, and I think has many unexplored avenues in the world of art. Lastly, the main character has a happy and long marriage. How often do we find that in media today?
This was my favorite read so far this year, I give it an A!
- Lists
There are works of art I could look at every day and never tire of. This is different than a 'favorite works' list because you can have a favorite work of art and be sick of looking at it. This list is made up of works that you could hang on your...
- Lions In Fifteenth Century French Tapestries
I recently had this question e-mailed to me, and I thought I would post both the question and my answer. Q: "Can anyone tell me why the lion looks so odd in the Sight tapestry. It looks like a monkey...In looking at the series the lion's face is really...
- For Your Eyes Only: Lionheart By Sharon Kay Penman
Lionheart by Sharon Kay Penman What rating does one give a book that was not only not read to the end, but was only read to 60 pages? Only on special occasions do I actually give a rating to a book if I have not made it to around 100 pages - or in the...
- Some Thoughts On Our Lady Of London
One of my favourite images of Our Lady is the poster 'Our Lady of London' which was designed in 1935 by Martin Travers. I took this photo of it from a surviving copy hanging in a Nottinghamshire church. Our Lady has twelve stars around her...
- A Defaced Medieval Reredos - Notgrove, Gloucestershire
The east wall behind the high altar of the tiny little estate church at Notgrove in Gloucestershire is generally covered with a large tapestry, which was made in 1954. If you pull it up, and there is a little pulley to help you, you reveal this: the...