Tag Archives: Medieval

Confessions

Posted on March 3, 2011 by smellincoffee

ConfessionsAugustine of Hippo, 354 – 430Translation © 1961 R.S. Pine-Coffin346 pages At the age of nineteen a young man encountered the golden voice of Cicero. Inspired by Cicero’s lush oratory, this boy began to pursue the love of wisdom, philosophy; … Continue reading →

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Agincourt

Posted on February 5, 2011 by smellincoffee

Agincourt© 2009 Bernard Cornwell451 pages “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers — for he today who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother, be he ne’er so vile.  This day shall gentle his condition, and … Continue reading →

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The Burning Land

Posted on January 2, 2011 by smellincoffee

The Burning Land© 2009 Bernard Cornwell336 pages “I see all history as being — and this is very simplistic — a contest between puritans and cavaliers, and I’m instinctively on the side of the cavaliers. As far as Uhtred is concerned, the … Continue reading →

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Sword Song

Posted on December 27, 2010 by smellincoffee

Sword Song: The Battle for London© 2008 Bernard Cornwell314 pages When King Alfred assumed the throne of Wessex, his fragile nation stood alone against the rest of England, subdued and ruled by the Danes.  Through  Alfred’s able administration and his … Continue reading →

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Lords of the North

Posted on December 14, 2010 by smellincoffee

Lords of the North© 2007 Bernard Cornwell317 pages “Where the tides of fortune take us, no man can know.” “They’re tricky, those tides…” (Sisko and Gowron, “By Inferno’s Light“. Deep Space Nine.) Only months ago, Uthred Ragnarson followed Alfred, the defeated … Continue reading →

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The Last Kingdom

Posted on November 21, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Last Kingdom© 2005 Bernard Cornwell333 pages My name is Uhtred. I am the son of Uhtred, who was the son of Uhtred and his father was also called Uhtred.[…]   I look at those parchments, which are deeds saying … Continue reading →

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Heretic

Posted on November 10, 2010 by smellincoffee

Heretic© 2003 Bernard Cornwell355 pages The year is 1347, and the English armies of Edward III are prevailing in France, having invaded to protect old Norman lands and capture new ones like the new port-city of Calais. The Hundred Years’ … Continue reading →

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Timeline

Posted on September 7, 2010 by smellincoffee

Timeline© 1999 Michael Crichton444 pages What happens when quantum mechanics and medieval history meet? Specifically, what happens when a team of American archaeologists  excavating the site of a ruined medieval fortress-town  are approached by the techno-firm ITC which is sponsoring … Continue reading →

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Captive Queen

Posted on July 31, 2010 by smellincoffee

Captive Queen: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine © 2010 Alison Weir 478 pages My life, when it is written, will read better than it lived. Henry Fitz-Empress, first Plantagenet, a king at twenty-one, the ablest soldier of an able … Continue reading →

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Joan of Arc: the Legend and the Reality

Posted on March 16, 2010 by smellincoffee

Joan of Arc: the Legend and the Reality© 1959 Frances Gies306 pages Few historical characters, and no women, are more famous than Joan of Arc. Her name and story are known throughout the world. In the Middle Ages there were … Continue reading →

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