Medieval Women: A Reading List
Explore this collection of books foregrounding medieval women as active leaders in political, religious, and cultural history. MatildaCatherine Hanley Matilda was a daughter, wife,…
Medieval History
The History Behind Wolf Hall: A Reading List
For those captivated by the intricate power dynamics and compelling personalities of Wolf Hall, these essential reads delve into the real histories which inspired…
The Stripping of the Altars – 50 Years in 50 Books
Eamon Duffy’s landmark account of the pre-Reformation church in England was first published in 1992. The Stripping of the Altars is a major revisionist…
Henry III – 50 Years in 50 Books
Writing in The Times, Dan Jones said, “Taken together, the two volumes of Henry III are more than just the fruits of four decades…
Going to Church in Medieval England by Nicholas Orme – 50 Years in 50 Books
Going to Church in Medieval England is a detailed account of parish churches and churchgoers in England, from the Anglo-Saxons to the mid-sixteenth century….
Henry III’s Westminster Abbey as a Coronation Church
Henry III rebuilt Westminster Abbey during his reign. He designed it from the start as a Coronation church. This extract from Henry III, Volume 2: Reform, Rebellion,…
King Æthelstan – Sarah Foot
This extract from Sarah Foot’s book, Aethelstan: The First King of England, looks at the early life of King Æthelstan. You can find out…
Candlemas: An Extract from ‘The Stripping of the Altars’
In The Stripping of the Altars, Eamon Duffy recreates lay people’s experience of religion in the pre-Reformation church, showing that late-medieval Catholicism was neither…
Henry V & The King’s English
Shakespeare’s centuries-old portrayal of Henry V established the king’s reputation as a warmongering monarch, a perception that has persisted ever since. But in Henry…
The Origins of Christmas Carols
In The Life of Music, Nicholas Kenyon explores the enduring appeal of the classical music canon at a moment when we can access all…
Two Houses, Two Kingdoms by Catherine Hanley: an extract
Two Houses, Two Kingdoms is an exhilarating, accessible chronicle of the ruling families of France and England, showing how two dynasties formed one extraordinary…
Staff Pick: Medieval History
This month, Yale University Press London staff voted for their favourite book on the theme of ‘Medieval History‘. Find out which books they recommended…
Queens of the Wild by Ronald Hutton: An extract
Ronald Hutton, author of Pagan Britain and The Witch, returns with Queens of the Wild, a history of the goddess-like figures who evade both…
Discovering King Henry III’s gold coinage – David Carpenter
David Carpenter, the author of, Henry III: The Rise to Power and Personal Rule, 1207-1258, recounts his search for the reason why a rare…
The Problem of Resources in Early Modern Times
Henry Kamen, author of Early Modern European Society recounts the debate over resources and the themes of conservation taking root across Europe in early…