Wars of the Roses - The People, Places and Battlefields of the Yorkists and Lancastrians

Wars of the Roses The People, Places and Battlefields of the Yorkists and Lancastrians written by Paul Kendell and published by Frontline Books - £25 - Hardback - Pages 224

The Wars of the Roses, which saw England and Wales ravaged by warfare for three decades and dynasties rise and fall, decimated the nobility of an entire generation, and saw the rise of the merchant class, the decline of medieval feudalism and opened the country to the enlightened ideals of the Renaissance. Such has been its lasting effects the red and white rose of the Tudors is still a national symbol.

This book is an exploration of the buildings, monuments, towns and battlefields of that turbulent era across both England and Wales – places that can still be visited and experienced today. The stories of the great battles of St Albans, Stoke Field, Wakefield, Towton, Barnet, Tewksbury and, of course, Bosworth, are told along with beautiful photographs to help guide the reader round these important sites, as well as the dozens of smaller engagements where the supporters of the Houses of York and Lancaster fought and died.

Here are castles and manor houses galore, all of which played their part in this protracted struggle for the throne of England, such as Richard of York’s imposing powerbase of Ludlow Castle and the magnificent Tudor stronghold of Bamburg. These are compared with the scant remains of Fotheringhay Castle, the birthplace of Richard III – the man whose remains were so dramatically uncovered in Leicester – and Micklegate Bar, York, was where Richard’s head was placed on a spike.

We see the Clocktower of St Albans and ‘Gabriel’ the bell that was rung in 1455 alerting of the Yorkist advance, as well as the Tower of London where Henry VI met his death and the possible burial place of the two princes.

These, and scores of other places, monuments, plaques, buildings and battlegrounds, represent not only a journey across England and Wales, but a journey back in time to the bloody conflict that was the War of the Roses.

A fascinating book in which the author Paul Kendall introduces us to another layer of the story of the War of the Roses, now most of us have read or have been told about the War of the Roses, but what happens here is that we are being lead and shown to the relevant places and people involved. This I believe helps us to better understand the story and those involved because we are being given the pictures and photos that help us understand what went on better. I found the book similar in style to the History in 100 Objects type books, but this was a little more focused. A great book and I’ve learnt so much from it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

A History & Guide to Scottish History

A History & Guide to Scottish Castles written by Jenna Maxwell and published by Pen & Sword Books - £22.00 - Hardback - Pages 220

At one time, Scotland was home to more than 4,000 castles. It’s an extraordinary

number for such a small country and today, around 3,000 still stand.

Some are world famous, others have inspired great works of literature, while others have lit up the silver screen.

There are grand, ticketed visitor attractions but there are others which are unassuming structures so tucked away that only the locals seem to know about them.

From the triangular-shaped Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfries and Galloway to the imposing New Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire, and from the magnificent fortress that dominates the Edinburgh skyline to the haunting battlements that stand on the banks of Loch Ness, each tower tells a story, every turret holds a secret and, together, they span centuries of fascinating Scottish history.

A History and Guide to Scottish Castles explores the history, architecture, and legends of some of these fascinating fortresses and looks at why they are so appealing to visitors today.

A History & Guide to Scottish is a fantastic little book that explores all the castles in Scotland, from the forgotten and neglected to the immaculate and well-known. Having spent 10 years of my childhood living in the fair Scottish land, I have visited a few of these castles. An excellent book that separates the castles into regions and then supplies great local history connected to the castles and provided with the excellent little stories of history and suspense. Visiting Crathes Castle as a child always amused me with the story of the ghost in the window, and finding it in this book, only for the ghost to move to the fireplace in the book. An excellent book with lots of information contained within, a really interesting read and ideal as a guide.

Landscapes of the Norman Conquest

Landscapes of the Norman Conquest written by Trevor Rowley and

published by Pen & Sword Books - £25 - Hardback - Pages 368

For a long time, the Norman Conquest has been viewed as a turning point in English

history; an event which transformed English identity, sovereignty, kingship, and culture.

The years between 1066 and 1086 saw the largest transfer of property ever seen in

English History, comparable in scale, if not greater, than the revolutions in France in

1789 and Russia in 1917. This transfer and the means to achieve it had a profound

effect upon the English and Welsh landscape, an impact that is clearly visible almost

1,000 years afterwards.

Although there have been numerous books examining different aspects of the British landscape, this is the first to look specifically at the way in which the Normans shaped our towns and countryside. The castles, abbeys, churches and cathedrals built in the new Norman Romanesque style after 1066 represent the most obvious legacy of what was effectively a colonial take-over of England. Such phenomena furnished a broader landscape that was fashioned to intimidate and demonstrate the Norman dominance of towns and villages.

The devastation that followed the Conquest, characterised by the ‘Harrying of the North’, had a long-term impact in the form of new planned settlements and agriculture. The imposition of Forest Laws, restricting hunting to the Norman king and the establishment of a military landscape in areas such as the Welsh Marches, had a similar impact on the countryside.

This is an extraordinary book, the amount of detail, research and knowledge is fantastic. To me as someone interested in local history and knowledge this book is perfect and packed with detail. It was really good to find out how the Normans would want to put their own stamp on a new country, just like other groups that have invaded previously. Even something little like learning how the Normans wanted a presence in most towns, it was good to read the reasons why and how. Or learning about burghs, hundreds & wapentakes, and how land was divided up on a Norman basis. The book contains a really good number of photographs both black & white and colour, along with good detailed maps. The bibliography was also very useful and I will be diving into that too for more local research. As I said I found this book to be a really good read and very informative, I will definitely be re-reading this one and can only recommend this book to everyone.

Medieval Royal Mistresses

Medieval Royal Mistresses - Mischievous Women who Slept with Kings and Princes

written by Julia A. Hickey and published by Pen & Sword Books - £25 - Hardback -

Pages 224

Marriage for Medieval kings was about politics, power and the provision of legitimate

heirs. Mistresses were about love, lust and possession. It was a world that included

kidnap, poison, murder, violation, public shaming and accusations of witchcraft.

Ambition and quick wits as well as beauty were essential attributes for any royal

mistress. Infamy, assassination and imprisonment awaited some royal mistresses

who tumbled from favour whilst others disappeared into obscurity or respectable

lives as married women and were quickly forgotten.

Meet Nest of Wales, born in turbulent times, whose abduction started a war; Alice Perrers and Jane Shore labelled ‘whores’ and ‘wantons’; Katherine Swynford who turned the medieval world upside down with a royal happy-ever-after and Rosamund Clifford who left history and stepped into legend.

Discover how serial royal womanisers married off their discarded mistresses to bind their allies close. Explore the semi-official roles of some mistresses; the illegitimate children who became kings; secret marriage ceremonies; Edith Forne Sigulfson and Lady Eleanor Talbot who sought atonement through religion as well as the aristocratic women who became the victims of royal lust.

Most of the shameful women who shared the beds of medieval kings were silenced, besmirched or consigned to the footnotes of a patriarchal worldview but they negotiated paths between the private and public spheres of medieval court life - changing history as they went.

An interesting and intriguing read about some of the women involved in Medieval relationships amongst kings and princes throughout Europe. There seems to be a variety of different reasons for these relationships such as love, seeking power and some that were born into a position where a relationship was a likely outcome. It was nice to read about women in this position rather than just the male viewpoint and I really liked that they took a European wide look rather than just sticking British. A lot of research done and well written certainly one for people into Women’s history through the medieval period.

Masters of Warfare - Fifty Underrated Military Commanders from Classical Antiquity to the Cold War

Masters of Warfare - Fifty Underrated Military Commanders from Classical

Antiquity to the Cold War written by Eric G. L. Pinzelli and published by

Pen & Sword Books - £25 - Hardback - Pages 336

In Masters of Warfare, Eric G. L. Pinzelli presents a selection of fifty commanders whose

military achievements, skill or historical impact he believes to be underrated by modern

opinion. He specifically does not include the household names (the ‘Gods of War’ as he

calls them) such as Alexander, Julius Caesar, Wellington, Napoléon, Rommel or Patton

that have been covered in countless biographies.

Those chosen come from every period of recorded military history from the sixth century BC to the Vietnam War. The selection rectifies the European/US bias of many such surveys with Asian entries such as Bai Qi (Chinese), Attila (Hunnic), Subotai (Mongol), Ieyasu Tokugawa (Japanese) and Võ Nguyên Giáp (Vietnamese). Naval commanders are also represented by the likes of Khayr al-Dīn Barbarossa, Francis Drake and Michiel de Ruyter.

These 50 “Masters of War” are presented in a chronological order easy to follow, with a concise overview of their life and career. Altogether they present a fascinating survey of the developments and continuities in the art of command, but most importantly their contribution to the evolution of weaponry, tactic and strategy through the ages.

This book takes a look at military commanders throughout time, men who excelled at strategy, tactics and leadership. The author Pinzelli also openly admits that he has tried to look at the lesser leaders in war, so not your Caesar, Napoleon or Wellington. Then added to that, the book has tried not to have a western bias but concentrate more on an Asian or Eastern theme. Now my knowledge of the Eastern theatre of war isn’t the best yet, but I did enjoy learning more about various military leaders I hadn’t heard of before. So yes, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I will use this as a good reference book. I suppose my only disappointment was that I would like to see a balanced book from all battles so we could clearly see who the real top military leaders were. A really good book, one for the military enthusiasts.

Mysteries of the Norman Conquest

Mysteries of the Norman Conquest written by Robert Allred and published by

Frontline Books - £25 - Hardback - Pages 248

Recent challenges to the traditional site of the Battle of Hastings have led to a surge of

interest in the events surrounding England’s most famous battle. This, in turn, has

increased speculation that the titanic struggle for the English crown in 1066 did not

take place on the slopes of what is today Battle Abbey, with a number of highly plausible

alternative locations being proposed. The time had clearly come to evaluate all these

suggestions, and Robert Allred decided to take on that task.

Taking nothing for granted, Robert hiked around the sites of the three battles of 1066 – Fulford, Stamford Bridge and Hastings. Armed with medieval sources and much of the current literature, he set out to appraise the evidence and to draw his own unbiased conclusions.

Following in the footsteps of the Viking warriors of Harald Hardrada, the knights of William of Normandy and the Anglo-Saxon soldiers of King Harold, the reader is taken on a journey from Yorkshire to the South Coast and down through the ages to re-examine what has been written about that momentous year – the intrigues, preparations and manoeuvres – which culminated on 14 October 1066, on a bloody hill somewhere in Sussex.

Whether this will settle the debate over the site of the Battle of Hastings or prompt further investigations remains to be seen, but it will be a book which cannot be ignored and that the reader will be unable to put down!

This was an interesting book in which the author Robert Allred attempts to look at the Battle of Hastings and try to establish the correct battlefield site for this battle, in amongst all the various bits of medieval evidence. The author establishes the real histories and reasons such as the Anglo-Saxon background, the Norman Invasion and also looks at three key medieval battle sites at Fulford, Stamford Bridge and Hastings. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and enjoyed how it was broken up into specific sections throughout the book which made it easier to read and believe each argument. I must admit to agreeing mostly with the conclusion in the book, but would it settle all the arguments, well you just have to read it and see what you think.

The Knights of Islam - The Wars of the Mamluks 1250 - 1517

The Knights of Islam - The Wars of the Mamluks 1250 - 1517 written by

James Waterson and published by Greenhill Books - £14.99 - Softcover - Pages 288

The Mamluks were, at one distinct point in history, the greatest body of fighting

men in the world and the quintessence of the mounted warrior – reaching near

perfection in their skill with the bow, lance and sword.

Their story embraces many of the great themes of medieval military endeavour: the Crusaders and the deadly contest between Islam and Christendom, the Mongols and their vision of World Dominion, Tamerlane the Scourge of God and the rise of the Ottoman Empire whose own slave soldiers, the Janissaries, would be the Mamluks' final nemesis.

They entered the Islamic world as unlettered automatons and through a total application to the craft of the warrior they became more than soldiers. After a bloody seizure of power from their masters, the descendants of Saladin, they developed a martial code and an honour system based on barracks brotherhood, a sophisticated military society that harnessed the state's energies for total war and produced a series of treatises on cavalry tactics, martial training, mounted archery and scientific and analytical approaches to warfare that more than compare to Sun Tzu's Art of War, the Western Codes of Chivalry and the Bushido in their complexity, beauty of language and comprehensive coverage of the bloody business of war.

Their story embraces many of the great themes of medieval military endeavour: the Crusaders and the deadly contest between Islam and Christendom, the Mongols and their vision of world dominion, Tamerlane and the rise of the Ottoman Empire whose own slave soldiers, the Janissaries, would be the Mamluks' final nemesis.

I should start with the fact that I sadly know little about this part of history, the medieval period of the Middle East. But I can say after reading this book, what an enjoyable and informative book it was to read. The book looks at a number of things such as the rise and power of the Mamluks, a determined and very highly skilled warrior skilled in warfare being able to handle multiple weapons and skills of attack and defence. The book also looks at the relationship between Islam and the Christians and how the strength of the Mamluks had an important but underplayed role in the Middle East. The book answers a lot of excellent questions and explains a number of reasons and possibilities. But whilst I can’t say everything made sense to me, as it is not an area I would call myself an expert in. What it has done is made me want to learn more about Middle Eastern politics and people. I really enjoyed the maps and timelines at the beginning of the book, as a newbie they really helped put the information into perspective. A really informative and excellent read.

Armies of Plantagenet England, 1135–1337

Armies of Plantagenet England, 1135–1337 written by Gabriele Esposito and published by Pen & Sword Books - £25 - Hardback - Pages 184

 

The ascent of the Plantagenets to the English throne in 1154 led to the beginning of a new

historical phase in the British Isles, which was marked by numerous wars that were fought

between the Kingdom of England and the 'Celtic nations' of Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

During the rule of the Norman kings, the English armies had not completed the conquest

of Wales and had established only some footholds in Ireland; Scotland was still independent

and was ready to contest the Plantagenets’ possession of northern England. As a result of

this situation, the two centuries between the rise of the new dynasty and the beginning of

the Hundred Years’ War were characterised by a series of wars that ravaged feudal England.

Gabriele Esposito covers all these conflicts, following the campaigns of Richard the Lionheart

as well as those of his younger brother who was defeated on the continent at the large Battle

of Bouvines; the conquest of Wales is analysed in detail, as well as the First Scottish War of

Independence that saw William Wallace playing a prominent role. The organization and

equipment of all the troop types taken into account is described in full detail and lavishly

illustrated with colour images of reenactors, bringing these forces to life.

 

Gabriele Esposito has written a complete and informative book here, looking at the armies, soldiers, tactics and weaponry based around the English Plantagenet Armies. These were the armies that cover the first fighting in Wales, Ireland and the first Scottish wars. The book covers a lot of history and leading Royals which is good to read and helps give the reader a good, solid knowledge of this period of time in medieval history affecting the home nations and their relationships between them. The author covers the weapons, armies and strategies used by the various Kings of the time and what also supported the text was some good photography of a number of re-enactors dressed in accurate uniforms with weapons too. Very informative and ideal for someone who wants a comprehensive book.

The Viking Saint

The Viking Saint written by John Carr and published by Pen & Sword Books

- £20 - Hardback - Pages 208

The Vikings and sainthood are not concepts normally found side by side. But Norway’s King

Olaf II Haraldsson (c. 995-1030) embodied both to an extraordinary degree. As a battle-eager

teenager he almost single-handedly pulled down London Bridge (as in the nursery rhyme)

and took part in many other Viking raids . Olaf lacked none of the traditional Viking qualities

of toughness and audacity, yet his routine baptism grew into a burning missionary faith that

was all the more remarkable for being combined with his typically Viking determination and

energy – and sometimes ruthlessness as well. His overriding mission was to Christianize

Norway and extirpate heathenism. His unstinting efforts, often at great peril to his life, earned

him the Norwegian throne in 1015, when he had barely reached his twenties. For the next

fifteen years he laboured against immense odds to subdue the rebellious heathen nobles of

Norway while fending off Swedish hostility. Both finally combined against Olaf in 1030, when

he fell bravely in battle not far from Trondheim, still only in his mid-thirties. After his body was

found to possess healing powers, and reports of them spread from Scandinavia to Spain and

Byzantium, Olaf II was canonized a saint 134 years later. He remains Norway’s patron saint

as well as a legendary warrior. Yet more remarkably, he remains a saint not only of the

Protestant church but also of the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches – perhaps

the only European fighting saint to achieve such acceptance.

I have to admit this was a new book to me and a new subject, Viking history has been one of

those parts of history I’ve been meaning to look further into. This book, about a Norweigen

Saint King Olaf II, I have to admit I had never heard about before but it seems he had a big

influence over many countries and religions. I should say that I have enjoyed reading this

book and learnt quite a bit, it seems a good opening for someone to investigate more into it.

If you already have a good knowledge of this subject it might be a bit basic. I found the book

to be quite informative and quite a battle at some points but it was certainly a good read.

Castle Builders

Castle Builders written by Malcolm Hislop and published by

Pen & Sword Books - £18.99 - Hardback - Pages 272

In Castle Builders, Malcolm Hislop looks at the hugely popular subject of castles from

the unusual perspective of design and construction. In this general introduction to the

subject, we discover something of the personalities behind their creation - the architects

and craftsmen - and, furthermore, the techniques they employed, and how style and

technology were disseminated. Castle Builders takes both a thematic and a chronological

approach to the design and construction of castles, providing the reader with clear lines

of development. Themes include earth, timber and stone construction techniques, the

evolution of the great tower, the development of military engineering, the progression of

domestic accommodation, and the degree to which aesthetics contributed to castle design.

This book looks at the creation and building of castles and types of castles from all around Europe. This book looks at the design, reasons, materials, fortifications, living conditions, military, aesthetics, and even the personalities of those commissioning the building and how this is impressed upon the building. The book is also full of great diagrams, drawings and photographs which really do complement the text and just help advance the learning from the book. I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish and loved all the design, engineering and the process of how castles were built. As a fan of castles full stop, this was like a dream book. All I can say is that if you are a fan of castles, you will love this book.

Castles of Wales

Castles of Wales written by John Paul Davis and published by Pen & Sword

Books - £25 - Hardback - Pages 264

In 1277, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Gwynedd, met with Edward I of England in

Aberconwy to finalise a treaty that would change the fate of both nations. His hand

forced by Edward’s invasion earlier that year, Llywelyn’s acceptance of the terms

confirmed not only short-term peace but also that the rule of Wales would pass to

Edward on his death. To augment his rising dominance, the English king embarked

on a building project that saw the rise of some of the most recognisable fortresses

in Europe. Quite literally, an ‘Iron Ring’ of castles.

Even before the construction of Edward’s infamous ‘Iron Ring’, castles were by no means rare in Wales.Both before and simultaneous to William the Conqueror’s establishment of timber and stone fortresses in the south and borderlands, a process continued by many of his descendants, native structures also existed. Though often more palatial than protective, such constructions proved decisive to the ongoing wars and were often chosen as sites for future castles. Just as had been the case in England, the story of the castle crosses many centuries. Many began as Roman forts, whereas others date from more modern times. While many are now romantic ruins, others remain cherished family homes, if not hotels or museums.

By adopting an identical approach to that seen in Castles of England, the purpose of this book is to throw light on the stories behind them. For as long as there have been castles in Wales, there have been mysteries within their walls. Murders that remain unsolved, treasures unfound, prisoners left to rot in the darkest pits and valiant warriors whose heroic deeds have become a cherished part of the Welsh identity.

From blood-soaked heroes to long-lost legends, despotic pirates to wailing hags, Castles of Wales offers a fresh investigation into many of its fascinating fortresses. No country has more castles per square mile than Wales. Even today, there are more than 200 to be enjoyed. Inspired by such a rich tapestry of tales, this book provides an essential introduction to the nation many regard as ‘The Land of Castles’

I love books on castles for some reason, and I especially enjoyed the Castles of England, so I was really looking forward to this book Castles of Wales. As a good book on castles, it is full of vivid descriptions, histories and great long tales. Some of the tales I would be a little dubious of, but that’s what we love about old buildings and castles. But considering Wales has over 500 castles, it obviously couldn’t fit in everyone but certainly, it has all the popular and well-known ones. Living in my part of Wales, it certainly has all the popular castles but I must say I used to live near one castle and my boys used to spend all their time as kids playing in the castle but we’d never heard of the story attributed to that one. A really good book and an informative read.

English Rebels and Revolutionaries

English Rebels and Revolutionaries written by Stephen Basdeo and

published by Pen & Sword Books - £25 - Hardback - Pages 288

Throughout history brave Englishmen and women have never been afraid to rise up

against their unjust rulers and demand their rights. Barely a century has gone by

without England being witness to a major uprising against the government of the day,

often resulting in a fundamental change to the constitution. This book is a collection

of biographies, written by experts in their field, of the lives and deeds of famous

English freedom fighters, rebels, and democrats who have had a major impact on

history. Featured chapters include the history of Wat Tyler’s Rebellion, when an army

of 50,000 people marched to London in 1381 to demand an end to serfdom and the

hated poll tax. Alongside Wat Tyler in this pantheon of English revolutionaries is Jack

Cade who in 1450 led an angry mob to London to protest against government

corruption. There are three chapters on various aspects of the English Civil War,

during which the English executed their king. Other rebel heroes featured include

Thomas Paine, the great intellectual of the American and French Revolutions;

Mary Wollstonecraft, author of The Rights of Woman; Henry Hunt, who, as well as

the Chartists after him, campaigned for universal suffrage; William Morris, the

visionary designer and socialist thinker; and finally the Suffragettes and Suffragists

who fought for women’s voting rights.

English Rebels and Revolutionaries throughout English history, the book is a collection separated into chapters written by individual experts and historians. The book is split into three sections, the Medieval Era, the English Revolution and the 18th Century, highlighting a number of individuals and events that happened in those times. I must admit I preferred the 18th Century section most as I had studied that at university, but the other two sections were just as good. It’s a very informative book and also very comprehensive in detail and facts. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and really enjoy these types of book. Highly recommended.

Traditional Dyeing

Traditional Dyeing written by Lynn Huggins-Cooper and published

by Pen & Sword Books - £12.99 - Softcover - Pages 176

This book offers a whistle-stop guide to the history of dyeing. The story begins in

prehistory when people discovered and used the glory of colours created by earth

pigments, plants and more. We move through history from the medieval dye gardens

to the horrors of chemical dyes from the Victorian era that damaged watercourses,

created pollution and caused terrible sickness and untold deaths. Today, along with

safe commercial dyes, modern ‘cottage industries’ are once more the leaders in the

innovative use of dye plants.

The second part of the book brings us up to date, via interviews with modern-day artisans. These dye workers generously allowed the author access to their studios and creative lives and discussed the way they use and adapt traditional methods, techniques and tools for the twenty-first century. Photos of their craft offer a unique window into the world of dyes.

Finally, if you are inspired to try your hand at this fascinating craft, the book has a section that explains simple eco-dyeing and planning your own dye garden. It also has a resources section containing a valuable list of suppliers of plants, seeds, dyes, tools and materials, as well as information about training courses, useful websites and more – everything you need to get started!

I would like to say a thank you to Pen & Sword Books for allowing me to review this book, or should I say mostly my wife who works as a freelance crafter in many skills. She has been looking at getting into producing wools and spinning etc, so this has come along at a timely period for her. These are mostly her opinions with mine thrown in too, the book is excellent in that it comes across as very clear, concise and very informative. The book goes through the history of traditional dyeing such as medieval, Georgian, Victorian and modern, this historical knowledge was great as it gives you the background to the craft and this really encourages to learn more and more. My wife really liked the info from the artisan crafters and the links are going to help her pursue this craft much further. A really good and informative book for anyone wanting to get into this craft as a business or for pleasure, I’m now having to do more planting now.

London A Fourteenth Century City and Its People

London A Fourteenth Century City and Its People written by Kathryn Warner

and published by Pen & Sword Books - £20 - Hardback - Pages 224

For the medieval period that was witness to a legion of political and natural disasters, the rise and fall of empires across the globe and one of the most devastating and greatest pandemics humankind has ever experienced, the fourteenth century was transformative.

Peering through the looking-glass to focus on one of Europe’s largest medieval cities, and the centre of an international melting pot on the global stage, this is a social history of England's (in)famous capital and its multi-cultural residents in the first half of the fourteenth century.

Using a rich variety of important sources that provide first-hand accounts of everyday life and personal interactions between loved ones, friends, foreigners and foes alike, such as the Assize of Nuisance, Coroners’ Rolls, wills, household accounts, inquisitions post mortem and many more, this chronicle begins at the start of the fourteenth century and works its way up to the first mass outbreak of the Black Death at the end of the 1340s. It is a narrative that builds a vivid, multi-layered picture of London’s inhabitants who lived in one of the most turbulent and exciting periods in European history.

Like the title says this book looks at life in 14th Century London, but from the average person’s level or viewpoint. What I loved about this book is the way it was written by the author Kathryn Warner, rather than chronologically year by year or decade by decade, the book looks at individual subjects in that century, for example, Health, Sanitation, Housing, Beer, Recreation and many more. But all this evidence and research is done through detailed research and first-hand accounts. The book is a fascinating read and a book that if you're a fan of English life, but especially London, you’ll really enjoy. Certainly, a book that enjoy social history. Would I recommend this book, hell yeah it’s one of my contenders for book of the year.

The Medieval Crossbow

The Medieval Crossbow written by Dr Stuart Ellis-Gorman and published

by Pen & Sword Books - £25 - Hardback - Pages 240

The crossbow is an iconic weapon of the Middle Ages and, alongside the longbow, one of the most

effective ranged weapons of the pre-gunpowder era. Unfortunately, despite its general fame it has

been decades since an in-depth history of the medieval crossbow has been published, which is

why Stuart Ellis-Gorman’s detailed, accessible, and highly illustrated study is so valuable.

The Medieval Crossbow approaches the history of the crossbow from two directions. The first is a technical study of the design and construction of the medieval crossbow, the many different kinds of crossbows used during the Middle Ages, and finally a consideration of the relationship between crossbows and art.

The second half of the book explores the history of the crossbow, from its origins in ancient China to its decline in sixteenth-century Europe. Along the way it explores the challenges in deciphering the crossbow’s early medieval history as well as its prominence in warfare and sport shooting in the High and Later Middle Ages.

This fascinating book brings together the work of a wide range of accomplished crossbow scholars and incorporates the author’s own original research to create an account of the medieval crossbow that will appeal to anyone looking to gain an insight into one of the most important weapons of the Middle Ages.

As a former Archery Coach, I was looking forward to reading this book, although the crossbow has a poorer reputation in the archery world. That is because people like to create an allure around items like the Longbow and how that is steeped in history, but the crossbow is actually one of the deadliest and most accurate weapons before the rifle. The crossbow used to have such power and accuracy, it meant the individual soldiers had very little chance of survival against them as it would pierce their armour so easily.

Although they could be more easily hidden and could be used by less skilled marksmen, their major problem was that they were so hard to load physically and often had to be used by two men. This was an excellent book which showed that the author had gone through a good bit of research, telling the tale, history, use and tactics that revolved around the crossbow. The first half of the book concentrates on the technicals and the second half concentrates on the history and the battles were influential in. A really good book, definitely one for the historical weapons buffs.