Tag: nonfiction

Book Review: “A Medieval Cabinet of Curiosities” by Lorris Chevalier

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When we think about how we study history, we often consider documents and chronicles that can provide us with dates and the stories of historical figures. However, this is only half the story. We can learn a great deal from the artifacts left behind. Each era left behind its treasure trove of trinkets for archaeologists and historians to discover and interpret their meanings and purposes. One of the most fascinating periods of history was medieval Europe, full of war, religious struggles, artwork, plagues, and technological advances. What types of artifacts were left behind from medieval Europe? Lorris Chevalier explores the trinkets and artifacts left behind in his book, “A Medieval Cabinet of Curiosities.”

I would like to thank Amberley Publishing for sending me a copy of this book. When I saw the concept for this book, it was intriguing. I was hoping that Chevalier would expand the medieval world to include Eastern Europe, Asia, South America, and perhaps Africa, as they don’t get a whole lot of attention when it comes to medieval studies and a more public history view. I wanted to learn something new.

Chevalier explains that this book explores fifty objects from the Viking Age to the end of the 16th century. These objects range from the religious and extraordinary to the most common articles of clothing. Each item has a unique story to share, which Chevalier discusses succinctly. His goal in this book is to break medieval stereotypes and show how diverse the medieval world was. A nice added feature of this book was that, instead of photographs of the artifacts, Chevalier included watercolor portraits at the end of each section to show what the artifact looked like.

I enjoyed this book for the new stories and characters that I got to meet along the way. These artifacts and stories were fresh and gave depth to the medieval period, even if he did bring up the Dark Ages a few times. I did have a few issues with the book. I did wish we had a wider range in medieval history, which covered more diverse stories than European medieval history. I also wish that the stories and artifacts were in more of a chronological order so readers can see the evolution of the medieval world. As it is written, it felt like it was a cluttered cabinet with no rhyme or reason to the organization, whereas I wanted something a bit more organized.

Overall, I found this quite a fascinating read. Chevalier is extremely knowledgeable about medieval Europe and these artifacts, no matter how obscure. If you want a book that tells the stories of medieval Europe through the trinkets left behind, I recommend you read “A Medieval Cabinet of Curiosities” by Lorris Chevalier.

Book Review: “Julian of Norwich: A Very Brief History” by Janina Ramirez

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When we think about the most impactful women authors, we often think about writers like Agatha Christie, Mary Shelley, and Jane Austen. However, when it comes to religious texts, we have to go back in time centuries. We think about nuns like Bridget of Sweden and a mother of 14 children named Margery Kempe. Yet, we must include an anchorite who stayed in her cell for almost thirty years. Her book, Revelations of Divine Love, is considered the first great work of English prose, but many people are not familiar with the author until now. Janina Ramirez tells the story of Julian of Norwich and how impactful her book was in her book, “Julian of Norwich: A Very Brief History.”

I have heard the name Julian of Norwich before in books about the 14th century and church history, but I didn’t know much about her life. I saw this book when I was preordering the latest book by Janina Ramirez, and so I decided to give it a try.

Since this is a short book, I will try to keep this review brief. Ramirez divided this biography into sections: the history and the legacy. In history, we as readers learn about Julian’s life from the limited sources that we have about her, as well as learning about how England and Europe changed during her lifetime. It was a chaotic period in the past with the Bubonic plague, the Hundred Years’ War, the Great Western Schism, the Peasants’ Revolt, and John Wycliffe. Let’s be honest, it’s a lot to deal with, but Julian was positive in her anchorite cell. Ramirez shows how complex yet hopeful and full of love Revelations of Divine Love is while showing the theological arguments Julian of Norwich makes in her work of prose. Finally, we get to see how Julian of Norwich’s story and her writing survived for centuries.

This was a delightful little nugget of a book that was extremely well researched, that shone a light on an obscure medieval woman writer. Reading this book gave me a new appreciation for medieval female authors. If you want to learn more about this remarkable woman, I suggest you read “Julian of Norwich: A Very Brief History” by Janina Ramirez.

Book Review: “Tudor Princes and Princesses: The Early Lives of the Children of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York” by Aimee Fleming

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The year is 1485, and the last Plantagenet king, Richard III, is dead. The young man whose army defeated the king is Henry Tudor, and he is about to start a dynasty that will reshape world history forever. Henry Tudor, now King Henry VII, married the daughter of King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, Elizabeth of York. Their marriage and their children would lay the foundation for the Tudor dynasty, but what was life like for the children who were the first generation of this remarkable dynasty? Aimee Fleming explores the lives of these royal siblings in her latest book, “Tudor Princes and Princesses: The Early Lives of the Children of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York.”

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book. I enjoyed her previous book about Margaret More Roper, so when I heard that she was writing a book about the children of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, I was curious to see what new information Fleming would include in this book.

Fleming begins with the aftermath of Bosworth as King Henry VII begins his new life as a king and husband to Elizabeth of York. As they anticipate the arrival of their firstborn child, we get to see how their childhoods influenced their parenting style. The couple’s firstborn child, Prince Arthur Tudor, would be born in Winchester, the city where the mythical Camelot is supposed to be. As the heir to the dynasty and a boy named after the legendary King Arthur, the young prince was seen as the embodiment of the Tudor rose and the hope of the dynasty’s future. No pressure at all for the young prince.

After the birth of Prince Arthur, Henry and Elizabeth welcomed Margaret, Henry, Elizabeth, Edward/Edmund, and Mary into the family. While Princess Elizabeth and Prince Edward/Edmund died young, we get to see Princesses Margaret and Mary, as well as Prince Henry, grow up in the royal nursery, being educated for their important roles as future monarchs, and the bond they shared as siblings. They had to deal with the ever-changing world of the 16th century and navigate the uncertainty of court life, especially with the pretenders waiting in the wings to snatch the crown. Margaret, Henry, and Mary had to deal with the death of Prince Arthur shortly after he married Catherine of Aragon, and their mother, Elizabeth of York, after she gave birth to her final daughter, who also died. Blood may have connected these siblings, but love and shared experiences made this family tight-knit.

Overall, I thought this book was a nice review book for those who know about the Tudors, and a nice introductory book for those who are not familiar with this family. If either of these descriptions sounds like you, if you are a Tudor nerd, I recommend you read “Tudor Princes and Princesses: The Early Lives of the Children of Henry VIII and Elizabeth of York” by Aimee Fleming.

Book Review: “Raising the Tudors: Motherhood in Sixteenth-Century England” by Stephanie Kline

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Throughout history, women have had one major job: giving birth and raising future generations. Each new generation had different ways of dealing with childbirth and raising children, and the Tudors were no exception. While the Tudors lived in the 16th century, the joys and fears of being a mother were similar to those of the modern age. However, the way women approached different stages of life in the 16th century is unique compared to the ways of modern women. So, how did Tudor women approach motherhood? Stephanie Kline hopes to answer this question in her latest book, “Raising the Tudors: Motherhood in Sixteenth-Century England.”

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I enjoy looking at different aspects of Tudor life, so when I saw the title of this book, it was an appealing concept.

Kline begins by explaining how women did not have many options for life other than marriage and a religious life. In the male-dominated world, women were destined to become wives and mothers. Kline’s book examines a Tudor woman’s life, from menstruation to menopause, covering marriage, pregnancy, and raising children. It is quite a lot of information to include in one book, but Kline does it with such care and attention to detail.

What Kline does extremely well is balance the stories she includes of women from all walks of life with what men and women were writing about during this time about women’s health. We get to see how much the Four Humours Theory affected every aspect of a woman’s life and her health, which included what recipes they would use to help their child. The pregnant portraits and the way women dealt with their pregnancies mirror the modern age with pregnancy photo shoots and special diets for both mother and child. While methods like confinement are drastically different than the 21st century, it is the love and care for a family that remains the same over centuries.

Overall, I found this book quite interesting, with stories and facts about the lives of Tudor women, from the time they transitioned from a girl to a woman until they died. I think the only thing I wanted was more stories of women from the middle and lower classes to get a better picture of how the different classes dealt with motherhood in their unique ways. I think if you want a solid book as an introduction to Tudor motherhood, I recommend you read, “Raising the Tudors: Motherhood in Sixteenth-Century England” by Stephanie Kline.

Book Review: “Sceptred Isle: A New History of the Fourteenth Century” by Helen Carr

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The Plantagenets, a dynasty that ruled England for over three hundred years. At least that is if you include the Lancastrian and Yorkist kings. Otherwise, the reign of the Plantagenets ended with Richard II being overthrown. So, how did the Plantagenets fall? How did wars, favoritism, and the plague factor into the fall? Helen Carr examines these questions and the rule of three kings over the fourteenth century in her latest book, “Sceptred Isle: A New History of the Fourteenth Century.”

I have really enjoyed Helen Carr’s insight into medieval English history in her book, The Red Prince, so when I heard she was writing a book about the Plantagenets again, with a focus on the fourteenth century, I was excited to read it. The idea in this book that caught my attention was the idea that the Plantagenet dynasty ended when Henry of Bolingbroke overthrew Richard II. As someone who believes that the Plantagenet dynasty ended with the death of Richard III, the concept that it ended almost a century earlier is intriguing.

We begin our adventure with a double reburial of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, the idea of King Edward I and his wife Eleanor of Castile. It was a kind gesture, but the prophecy that was left behind would be almost prophetic. With the death of King Edward I, the Hammer of the Scots, the throne passed to his son Edward II. While Edward I was a strong warrior, Edward II was a handsome prince who only cared about his favorites, Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser the Younger. It would cause those around him, including his wife, Isabella of France, and her lover, Roger Mortimer, to take action against him. Isabella and Mortimer placed Edward III on the throne, but they would soon learn that Edward III was not as passive as his father.

Edward III would return to the warrior state of mind like his grandfather Edward I. With his wife Philippa of Hainault, they would have a large family with many sons, including John of Gaunt and Edward the Black Prince. It would be Edward III who would try to take the French throne for England in a conflict known as the Hundred Years’ War (not the quickest war, and it didn’t go the way Edward III envisioned it). And to top it all off, Edward III had to deal with the emergence of the Black Death and how it affected not only his own family but England and Europe as a whole.

Before Edward III died, his heir, the Black Prince, died, which meant that the Black Prince’s son, Richard II, was destined to be the next king. However, youth and favoritism failed the king as chaos reigned ever since the start of his reign, with the Peasants’ Revolt, and ended with Henry of Bolingbroke becoming the first Lancastrian King, Henry IV.

This was another wonderful book by Helen Carr. It demonstrates Carr’s ability to balance extensive research with a narrative format to create an accessible history book that novices and experts will equally enjoy. My only qualm with this book, if you can call it an issue, is that I wanted it a bit longer so we get more analysis of how this one century affected English and European history as a whole. If you want a book that dives into the history of one of England’s most tumultuous centuries, I highly recommend you read “Sceptred Isle: A New History of the Fourteenth Century” by Helen Carr.

Book Review: “The Shakespeare Ladies Club: The Forgotten Women Who Rescued the Bawdy Bard” by Christine and Jonathan Hainsworth

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When we think of the greatest writers of all time, we often think about novelists like Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. There is a playwright who we know quite well in our century, but he wrote during the sixteenth century; William Shakespeare, “the Bard.” He may have been a star in his own time and is seen as one of the greats in our era, but it took a while to get him to such a status. In fact, he was forgotten for quite some time, until the 18th century, when an unlikely group of women decided to save the bard from obscurity. The story of the Shakespeare Ladies Club, its members, and the women’s impact is told in Christine and Jonathan Hainsworth’s book, “The Shakespeare Ladies Club: The Forgotten Women Who Rescued the Bawdy Bard.”

I would like to thank Amberley Publishing for sending me a copy of this book. I am not someone who usually reads about the 18th century, but the subject intrigued me. I mean a group of women to save the legacy of one of the greatest writers of all time in a time when women did not have much of a voice. It sounded like such a remarkable story that I jumped at the chance to read it.

So, what was the Shakespeare Ladies Club, and how did they save Shakespeare? For centuries, many have believed that David Garrick was the man who saved Shakespeare, as he is the one who staged the famous Shakespeare Jubilee to honor the playwright’s birth. However, the Shakespeare Ladies Club deserves the title of saviors of Shakespeare because not only did they raise the funds needed to create the statue of the Bard in the Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey, but they also advocated for the performance of the original, unedited plays. The four remarkable women were: Susanna Ashley-Cooper, Countess of Shaftesbury, Mary, Duchess of Montagu, Elizabeth Boyd, and Mary Cowper de Grey, Baroness Walsingham.

The Hainsworths take the time to give each woman their dedicated chapter for a mini-biography to show how extraordinary they were and to show how they became a group. Susanna Ashley-Cooper was known as the “Queen of Common Sense” and was the founder of the group. Mary, Duchess of Montagu, was the daughter of Sarah Churchill, one of the favorites of Queen Anne, and a con-artist, and was married to a practical joker. Elizabeth Boyd was not a noble lady, but she wrote like she was running out of time. Finally, we have Mary Cowper de Grey, Baroness Walsingham, a poet with a progressive husband who fought for the rights of women. While we do get a glimpse of the lives of these women, we also see how their reputation differed from another group, the Blue Stocking Society and early Shakespearean actresses. Finally, we see how Shakespeare’s legacy changed over time from the Shakespeare Ladies Club to the modern day.

This was such a fascinating book, full of brand-new stories to me and women that I had never heard of before until I read this book. It was meticulously researched, and it felt like a passion project for the Hainsworths. If you want to learn about how Shakespeare’s legacy survived for centuries and the women who helped fight for his cause, I would highly recommend you read “The Shakespeare Ladies Club: The Forgotten Women Who Rescued the Bawdy Bard” by Christine and Jonathan Hainsworth.

Book Review: “Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling” by Ross King

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The Italian Renaissance was a time of great artwork, eccentric artists, and patrons who created these masterpieces. While the art tells a story, the artist and patron want the audience to understand, but sometimes the story of how the art came to be can be just as fascinating. One of the most famous pieces of art from the early 16th century was the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. A stunning piece created by an artist who primarily created sculptures, and his patron was a pope who was more like a warrior. The story of how Michelangelo and Pope Julius II created an unlikely team to create this remarkable masterpiece is told in Ross King’s book, “Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling.”

This is one of those books that caught my eye in a used bookstore. I am a fan of art history, so it intrigued me when I saw the title. Obviously, I have seen images of the Sistine Chapel, and I knew that Michelangelo was the one who painted the ceiling, but beyond that, I didn’t know much about this piece or the history behind it. With the recent Papal Conclave, which takes place in the Sistine Chapel, I thought this would be the perfect time to read this book.

The year is 1508, and the Sistine Chapel has just been restored. Pope Julius II wants someone to paint the ceiling of the Chapel. While others would have easily chosen a painter who knew how to paint frescoes as an ideal choice, Julius II and his assistant, Donato Bramante, decided to pick the young man who was in charge of carving Pope Julius’ tomb, Michelangelo Buonarroti. To say Michelangelo was not a fan of this assignment from the Pope would be an understatement. All the man wanted to do was sculpt amazing sculptures like David and the tomb for the Pope, but no, the Pope wanted him to paint. So he reluctantly taught himself how to paint in fresco over four years to create this masterpiece, telling tales of the Old Testament in the Bible with a specific emphasis on Creation and the stories of Moses. 

Those four years saw much action for Michelangelo and Pope Julius II, who was known as il papa terribile. Michelangelo had to keep an eye on his fresco, his rival Raphael, and his family, who were always causing trouble. Pope Julius had to fight not only illness, but also the French, led by King Louis XII, which led to the creation of the Holy League against France. King also lays out the process and the inspiration for Michelangelo’s masterpiece, which I found quite fascinating. 

This was a captivating read that gave such wonderful information about the era and the creation of this masterpiece. I have been a fan of art history and the history of the 16th century, so this book ticked so many boxes for me. If you want a delightful book full of art history and the history of Italy during the 16th century, I would recommend reading “Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling” by Ross King.

Book Review: “The Black Death in England: Journal of the Plague Years in the Fourteenth Century” by Kathryn Warner

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Throughout history, pandemics have ravaged human populations and changed the course of history. None more so than the Bubonic Plague, also known as the Black Death. It devastated entire families and altered entire countries, primarily in Europe. Although England is an island nation, that does not mean it could not escape the pandemic’s horrors for long. In her latest book, “The Black Death in England: Journal of the Plague Years in the Fourteenth Century, “ Kathryn Warner explores the lives of the victims of the Black Death throughout England during this century.

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I haven’t read many books that focus primarily on the Black Death, so I was interested to see what kind of insights Warner would provide in this book.

Warner is known for her meticulous research, which she masterfully demonstrates in this book. Unlike other books about the Black Death, Warner chooses to focus on the individual stories of the victims and the survivors from every walk of life. Now this is a lot of information, especially when you consider how many waves of the plague hit England and the number of villages that were in England during this period. However, Warner breaks it down so each region gets its special section. Primarily, Warner explores the plague outbreak of 1349-1350, but she does explore other outbreaks.

The true highlight of this book is the fact that Warner focuses on the stories of the common people, not just the nobility or royalty, which are often highlighted in medieval history books. I think it was so fascinating to see how others dealt with the plague and how it affected their families and the nation as a whole.

Overall, I think this is a solid book for those who want to dive into the archives and explore the impact of the Black Death in England. It may be a difficult read for some and it might not be for casual readers, but if you want something more academic, I would suggest “The Black Death in England: Journal of the Plague Years in the Fourteenth Century” by Kathryn Warner.

Book Review: “Katharine of Aragon, Spanish Princess: ‘I Am Not as Simple as I May Seem’” by Heather R. Darsie

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We all know the gist of the tragic tale of Katharine of Aragon. A Spanish princess who was brought to England to marry the heir of the Tudor throne, Prince Arthur Tudor. When the prince died mere months after their wedding day, Katharine was left in limbo and desolate as the Kings of Spain and England bickered over her dowry. Eventually, she would marry King Henry VIII, was his wife for over twenty years, and have numerous miscarriages before Henry decided to divorce her and marry Anne Boleyn. We know how Katharine’s story ends, but how did the stories of her Trastamara family influence her life and her reign as Queen of England? Heather R. Darsie explores Katharine’s Spanish origins in her latest book, “Katharine of Aragon, Spanish Princess: ‘I Am Not as Simple as I May Seem.’”

I would like to thank Amberley Publishing for sending me a copy of this book. I have enjoyed Darsie’s books, “Anna, Duchess of Cleves: The King’s Beloved Sister” and “Children of the House of Cleves: Anna and Her Siblings.” While her previous books focus on German history and sources, Darsie decided to shift her attention to Spain with this particular book. I was curious how much new information and insight Darsie would provide about Katharine’s life.

Darsie begins by having lovely family trees and a timeline listing the numerous figures that will be covered in this book, because as stated before, this book covers the origins of Katharine of Aragon’s family, the Trastamaras. The book is broken down into three sections. The first focuses on the Trastamaras and the history of the crowns of Castile and Leon and Aragon, culminating with Katharine’s parents, Isabella I of Castile and Leon, and Ferdinand II of Aragon. The second focuses on Katharine’s early life, how she became the bride of Prince Arthur Tudor of England, and how his death affected Katharine. Finally, part three explores Katharine of Aragon’s life as queen consort of King Henry VIII.

To me, the true highlight of this book is the exploration of the Trastamara family tree. While I do know a bit about the origins of Isabella I of Castile and Leon from a book I just read on her life, I did not know the origins of the family. Starting with the origins of both the elected composite crown of Aragon and the inherited composite monarchy of Castile and Leon, we see how the Trastamara dynasty started like the Tudor dynasty. It was a dynasty full of drama, civil wars, a member who married a corpse, a king who died due to alcohol burns, and many mistresses. It is through these stories that you can see where Katharine of Aragon and her daughter Mary I got their strength and determination to keep on fighting for what they believed in, even when the odds were very much against them.

This is yet another triumph by Darsie. It is extremely informative, meticulously researched, and easy to read. It gives the reader a better understanding of not only Spanish royalty and its complexity, but also a better appreciation of Katharine of Aragon. If you want an excellent book exploring the life of King Henry VIII’s first wife from a different perspective, I highly recommend you read “Katharine of Aragon, Spanish Princess: ‘I Am Not as Simple as I May Seem’” by Heather R. Darsie.

Book Review: “Holbein: The Ambassadors” by Tracy Borman

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Do you have a favorite painting? One that grabs your attention whenever you look at it and discover something new. Most paintings are from da Vinci, van Gogh, Rembrandt, Picasso, or Michelangelo, just to name a few. However, there is one artist that I feel doesn’t get a whole lot of attention unless you study the 16th century: Hans Holbein the Younger. While Holbein is known for his single portraits, his double portrait, known as The Ambassadors, is stunning to look at and is filled with symbolism. Tracy Borman, in collaboration with the National Gallery, has written a short book about this remarkable painting entitled “Holbein: The Ambassadors.”

Since this is a small book (less than a hundred pages), I will keep this review brief. The Ambassadors is a painting most likely commissioned in 1533 by Hans Holbein the Younger. For years, the identity of the sitters has been debated, but they were finally identified as Jean de Dinteville, the French ambassador to England, and Georges de Selve, ambassador to Emperor Charles V. At the time of the painting of this double portrait, England was in the midst of the Great Matter, the divorce of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, so a few elements are alluding to the changes happening in Europe during this time, which Borman explores in depth. She also explores the life of “the King’s Painter” Hans Holbein the Younger and how you can see his distinct style in this piece. Finally, Borman also explores how the painting was kept for centuries, as well as the research that was conducted on it, and the preservation processes that the National Gallery

This was a fun and informative little book about one of my favorite paintings. It gave me a new appreciation for Holbein and this stunning painting. If you want a book about a piece of art from the 16th century, you should check out “Holbein: The Ambassadors” by Tracy Borman.