Medieval & Renaissance History

THE ART OF WAR IN THE MIDDLE AGES
by C.W.C. Oman. Revised & edited by John H. Beeler. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1986 Cornell Univ. Press Trade Paperback, 6th printing. Light edge wear to front cover edge with shelf wear hinge crease. Interior clean & tight - perfect. Content: Reviewer: "This is an excellent and fascinating work. I highly recomend it for anyone interested in warfare, the middle ages, or both. It is full of well-researched insights and synthesizes and provides a broad general framework for understanding warfare in this period. Serious scholars or those seeking to use this as a textbook should note that the original version that forms the basis of this book was written a century ago and is probably outdated, despite the rewritten portions. However, the greatest strength of this book is that it is extraordinarily well-written, and a pleasure to read." [1 copy available]
$ 11.59 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

THE BLACK DEATH
by Philip Ziegler. Condition: UNREAD 1986 Harper Torchbooks Trade Paperback (of a 1969 edition), 20th printing. Tiny edgewear and heavy tanning to interior page edges. Content: Explores the lasting effects of the Black Death on European society and its contribution to the disintegration of an age. [1 copy available]
$ 5.59 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

THE CIVILISATION OF THE RENAISSANCE IN ITALY
by Jacob Burkhardt. Condition: NEW 2003 Konecky & Konecky hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing given. From the third edition of the original text with added notes and text. Content: Serious consideration of the Renaissance can be said to have begun with this book. Burckhart immersed himself in the study of the Renaissance, reading virtually every primary souce available from a period that ranges from Dante to Michaelangelo. His synthesis of literature, philosophy, art and architecture launched the discipline of cultural history; and his persuasive account of the social and political forces that shaped Italy of this time has served as a benchmark for generations of histories. Questions welcome. [1 copy available.]
$ 9.50 + $ 3.39 media shipping.

COURTLY LOVE IN MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPTS
by Pamela Porter. Beautiful color reproductions of medieval art - double-page layout of the jousting is my favorite. Condition: NEW 2003 British Library soft cover, no printing given. Content: Widely popular in Europe throughout the Middle Ages, the phenomenon of courtly love is said to have had its origins with the troubadours of the 11th century. The idealistic relationship between a knight and his lady became a powerful force in shaping the literature of the day. "Courtly Love in Medieval Manuscripts" describes this phenomenon against a backdrop of the romantic interests and "real life" relationships of medieval society. Questions welcome. [1 copy available.]
$ 4.50 + $ 3.29 media shipping..

THE CRUSADES
by Michael Paine. B&W maps. Condition: NEW 2005 Chartwell small hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: The crusades have inspired both the very long and, now, the very short, exposition. Paine does an admirable job in condensing this riveting and often confusing history into just over 130 pages, offering much more than the book's slim stature might suggest: the macabre end of Frederick of Barbarossa, whose army dutifully carried his pickled corpse into the holy land; and the Children's Crusade, whose young participants could not survive the treachery of their older Christian brethren (many died or were sold into slavery) before having a chance to fight the wicked Saracen. This short account lacks the nuance with which many scholars have treated the subject; readers will find very little on the manifold causes and the controversies of these holy wars or of their nachleben, the elaborate mythology and works of art and propaganda they continue to inspire. This is a perfectly readable and brisk introduction that should stimulate readers new to the subject. [This is a book for the causal reader of history who saw Kingdom of Heaven and wanted some additional information or for high school students. I liked it.] Questions welcome. [1 copy available.]
$ 2.50 + $ 3.09 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

THE DEDALUS BOOK OF MEDIEVAL LITERATURE: The Grin of the Gargoyle
edited & translated by Brian Murdoch. Condition: NEW 1996 Dedalus Trade Paperback, no printing given. Content: Murdoch provides an alternative view of the Middle Ages, showing the anarchy and decadence which lurked below the surface of a devout and conformist society. The grinning gargoyle, which mocked the solemnity of Gothic cathedrals, symbolises the violence, depravity and irreverence inherent in man which could not be surpressed by the church. Texts include: Trial of Gilles de Rais, Boccaccio's Decameron, I Have a Gentil Cok, A Black Mass and Metrical Verses on the Subject of his Price. Assembled and translated texts from Medieval Latin, Old French, Italian, Scots, Gaelic, Cornish, Old and Middle English, Old Irish and Welsh. Questions welcome. [1 copy available.]
$ 8.50 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

FOUR STAGES OF RENAISSANCE STYLE:
Transformations in Art and Literature 1400 - 1700
by Wylie Sypher. B&W photo section (12 pages). Condition: Very good pre-read 1955 Anchor paperback original, first printing. Pale spine & hinge crease with small edgewear. No tanning! Content: A discussion of the four major stages of Renaissance style: Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque, and Late Baroque. [1 copy available]
$ 4.50 + $ 2.94 media shipping.

A GUIDE TO HERALDRY
by Ottfried Neubecker. Wonderful color photos and B&W drawings & photos ilustrate. Condition: NEW 2007 Barnes & Noble hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), reissue, first printing. Content: This handy reference book presents state coats of arms from across the world, along with signs, helmets, shields, and crowns, accompanied by a text that explains the symbols and meanings of each design. Filled with color and black-and white photographs, the book is of interest to students of medieval history as well as SCA enthusiasts. [1 copy available]
$ 4.50 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES IN GERMANY
edited by Rolf Toman. Wonderful B&W photos and drawings plus excellent color repros of the art work. Condition: UNREAD 1990 Benedikt Taschen coffee-table sized hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), no edition nor printing given. Content: This book aims to satisfy the curiosity many people today feel about the Middle Ages. With its emphasis on central Europe, it attemps an all-round picture of mediaeval thinking, belief and society. [1 copy available]
$ 16.50 + $ 3.49 media shipping. International shipping by arrangement - email us.

THE HISTORY OF CHIVALRY AND ARMOUR
by F. Kottenkamp. Beautiful full-color plates (60 of them). Condition: NEW 2006 Dover large soft cover, no printing given. Tiny shelf wear. Interior perfect. Content: This book was original published in 1857. A visual and literary feast, Kottenkamp's highly respected work is an incomparable study of the origins, codes, practices, and weaponry of knighthood. The engravings — detailing an astounding array of pikes, crossbows, swords, daggers, siege towers, projecting engines, gilded armor, jousts, and more — have been painstakingly reproduced from a rare 19th-century masterpiece. Questions welcome. [1 copy left]
$ 6.19 + $ 3.29 media shipping. International shipping available on arrangement.

HUNTING WEAPONS; From the Middle Ages to the Twentieth Century
by Michel Pastoureau. Beautiful color art & photos with B&W illustrations. Condition: NEW 1997 Harry Abrams (Discoveries series) small soft cover, no printing given. Content: This book, like all of the history books in the Discoveries series, is an excellent introdruction to the age of chivalry and its symbols as found in Heraldry. It includes a glossary of crests, a history of the European tradition of heraldry explains its origins, the meaning of its colors and symbols, and its survival in the world's flags, emblems, and corporate logos. Questions welcome. [1 copy left]
$ 5.50 + $ 3.09 media shipping. International shipping available on arrangement.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR AND THEIR MYTH
by Peter Partner. Small B&W photo section. Condition: UNREAD 1990 Destiny Trade Paperback, revised edition, 5th printing. Tiny edge wear. Content: A systematic examination of the Knights Templar around whom such great magical myths have arisen... Partner has created a rational, terrifying picture of the barbaric times when popes were cruel and kings killed with impunity...Excellent work. Reviewer: "This book is not for anyone hoping to keep delusions about the Templar Knights. It does in places draw conclusions that are non-sequitur, but the history presented is factual according to reliable sources. As the author points out, it is possible that some of the crimes and 'heresies' attributed to the Templars could have been performed by some Templars, but it is unlikely that all of them performed the described rituals. The purported worship of 'Baphomet', for example, was probably created under the duress of torture. 'Baphomet' is the French word for Mohamad at the time, and the various descriptions given seem to be people searching for a way to stop being tortured. Did the Templars hold onto holy objects like the Ark of the Covenant, the Shroud of Turin, or the Holy Grail? These are questions that are not addressed in this book, except with an enduring scepticism. However, the author does leave room for possibilities. As a historically accurate depiction, it should preclude any such searches as a basis for knowledge. It is an interesting and factual look, with a fascinating plot." Questions welcome. [1 copy left]
$ 4.50 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

LIFE IN A MEDIEVAL CASTLE
by Joseph & Frances Gies. B&W photos, drawings, and even "sheet music." Condition: Gently pre-read 1992 HarperPerennial Trade Paperback, 19th printing. Light edgewear with pale spine crease. Interior pages clean & tight with light tanning to edges. Content: Reviewer: "This short book on life in a medieval castle centers around the history of one fortress on the border between England and Wales, and then relates that story to castles across Western Europe. The passages are divided into chapters on all facets of castle life, and are written in a clear, almost "novel" like way. Some of the facts presented are well-known, but there were enough fresh tidbits and interesting anecdotes that I never found myself bored. In addition, at the end of the book, is a list of historically important castles, ranging in construction from the 9th century to the 15th century, that can be useful if the reader is planning a trip to England, France, Spain or elsewhere in Europe. All in all, an entertaining and well written book." [1 copy available]
$ 2.49 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

MEDIEVAL PEOPLE
by Eileen Power. Condition: Good+ to Very Good c. 1976 Barnes & Noble Trade Paperback. UNREAD but cover has problems: rubbing along front hinge, edgewear & creases back cover corners. The interior clean, tight with no tanning. Content: Eileen Power's Medieval People sets out to study the Middle Ages not from the viewpoint of an Historical abstraction, but rather from that of the people who lived during the age. It is an account of six individuals who lived during the MA's; Bodo, a Frankish Peasant; Marco Polo, the famous Venetian merchant; Madame Eglentyne, prioress of Chaucer; an anonymous middle-class Parisian housewife; and two English merchants, one engaged in the wool trade and the other a clothier in Essex. The author has illustrated various aspects of social life of the era by drawing on such sources as account books, diaries, letters, records, and wills. She starts the work with a previously unpublished essay entitled "The Precursors," which describes the barbarian conquest of Rome. In this, she describes the lives of three men, Ausonius, Sidonius and Fortunatus and uses them to foreshadow the life that would re-emerge in the Middle Ages. This is an historical gem! [1 copy available]
$ 6.50 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

MS. FRIZZLE'S ADVENTURES: MEDIEVAL CASTLE
by Joanna Cole. Wonderful color "comic" detailed illustrations by Bruce Degen. Color illustrations remind one of the great detailed drawins of the DK books for kids. Condition: NEW 2004 Scholastic over-sized soft cover, second printing. Light edge wear. Content: One Saturday morning, Ms. Frizzle runs into one of her students, Arnold, at Craig's Castle Shop. They find themselves traveling back to medieval times, checking out life in a castle. The story mixes adventure with humor, fact with fiction. Cartoon illustrations, as usual, are awash with action and scenery. The busy layout includes large-type narration in white rectangles, pale yellow dialogue bubbles, and fact boxes. Kids will appreciate the funny asides, particularly Arnold's thoughts on his teacher-"Not my teacher! It's Saturday!" Although most of the facts can be found elsewhere, the presentation will be a draw for the many Frizzle devotees. Although the book has a larger format than the "Magic School Bus" series, it will attract the same audience. Even the endpapers have a spiffy spin on heraldry, with coats of arms depicting the teacher, her student, and their friends. Bus or no bus, there's no denying the Frizzle magic. [1 copy available]
$ 10.49 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

PAPER SOLDIERS OF THE MIDDLE AGES: Volume 1: The Crusades
by David Nicolle. B&W drawings illustrate. Front cover: Sir Robert of Trumpington. Back cover: King Richard the Lion-Hearted. Condition: UNREAD 1992 Bellerophon Books soft cover, no printing given. Content: Born of a mixture of religious fervour, military ardour and political will, the Crusades ( 1095 - 1291) remain a fascinating and misunderstood aspect of medieval history. Born amid immense suffering and bloodshed the Kingdom of Jerusalem remained a battlefield for almost 200 years. The Crusades raised to campaign for it gave rise to the Military Orders of the Templars and Hopitallers as well as numerous smaller orders, and were a backdrop to the careers of some of history's most famous leaders including Richard 'The Lionheart' and Saladin. David Nicolle recounts the background and events of these fundamental campaigns that scarred the Late Medieval period. An unrivalled illustrated reference source on fighting men and commanders, past and present. Each volume is packed with full colour artwork, making military history uniquely accessible to enthusiasts of all ages. Ages 9 - 12. Questions welcome [1copy available]
$ 8.29 + $ 3.19 media shipping. International shipping available - please email us.

THE REAL HISTORY BEHIND THE TEMPLARS
by Sharan Newman. B&W illustrations. Condition: UNREAD 2007 Berkley Books Trade Paperback, first printing. Tiny edge wear bottom front cover. Content: The medieval historian who revealed The Real History Behind the Da Vinci Code uncloaks the Templars. In the year 1119, these noblemen found their calling as protectors of the faithful on a dangerous pilgrimage to newly conquered Jerusalem. Now, historian Sharan Newman elucidates the mysteries and misconceptions of the Templars, from their true first founding and role in the Crusades to more modern intrigues, including: Were they devout knights or secret heretics?; Did they leave behind a fantastic treasure-hidden to this day?; How did they come to be associated with the Holy Grail?; Did they come to America before the time of Columbus?; Does the order still exist? [1 copy available]
$ 5.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

RENAISSANCE HUMANISM 1300 - 1550
by Frederick B. Artz. Condition: UNREAD 1996 Kent State University Press Trade paperback, first edtition, second printing. Tiny edgewear and no tanning to pages that I can see. Content: A study of Renaissance philosophy by country. [1 copy available]
$ 7.59 + $ 2.89 media shipping.

SHIELD OF THREE LIONS (Historical Fiction)
by Pamela Kaufman. Condition: NEW 2002 Three Rivers Press Trade Paperback, second printing. Cover material is a bit flimsy and causes a slight "turn-up" to cover edges. Interior perfect. Content: The story follows the exploits of a Alix, a girl disguised as a boy, as she follows Richard the Lion Heart on his crusades. Exciting, hilarious, filled with adventure, and often ribald. Originally published in 1983. [1 copy available]
$ 3.50 + $ 3.09 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

THE TALE OF THE CID and Other Stories of Knights and Chivalry
by Andrew Lang. B&W drawings by H. J. Ford illustrate. Beautiful cover art by William O'Connor. Condition: NEW 2007 Dover Trade Paperback, no printing given. From 1905 "Red Book of Romance." Tiny shelf wear. Content: Great romances are old-fashioned stories filled with enchanted castles, mighty heroes, and lovely ladies in distress. This collection contains 19 such terrific tales, including several adventures of a brave old knight whose vivid imagination often gets him into serious trouble. 23 black-and-white illustrations. All ages, 9 and up. [1 copy available]
$ 3.99 + $ 3.09 media shipping,

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE ROMAN WORLD AD 400 - 900
edited by Leslie Webster and Michelle Brown. Color photo section iplus B&W maps, photos, & drawings. Condition: NEW 1996 University of California Press soft cover, first printing. Tiny edge wear. Content: The fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of what we call the Middle Ages was a period of tremendous change and upheaval in Europe and Byzantium. Focusing on these pivotal five centuries in European history, this wide-ranging study features essays by an international team of distinguished scholars. Their essays survey the most significant aspects of the transition from late Antiquity to the early Middle Ages: the later Roman empire, the barbarian successor states, estates and property, wealth and treasure, production and distribution, death and burial rites, cult and worship, and the transmission of ideas. The essays are accompanied by six shorter chapters based on related exhibitions in museums throughout Europe during 1997, with themes ranging from Roman villas to Scandinavian gold brooches, Byzantine burial practices to medieval Dutch hoards. This is an excellent look at this historical era. [1 copy available]
$ 22.69 + $ 3.49 media shipping.

UPPITY WOMEN OF MEDIEVAL TIMES (SC)
by Vicki Leon. B&W drawings illustrate. Condition: UNREAD 1998 Conari Press soft cover, third printing. Content: Historian Leon provides a lively history of a middle ages period filled not with homemakers and princes; but with feisty women who defied cultural expectations and built powerful lives. This is actually a series of biographical sketches of selected women; from an early Italian physician who developed a virginity-restoration technique to a fashion designer. Some of the "wild women" are: Nun turned top-gun Catalina de Erauso, who dueled, drank, and cross-dressed her way through Spain and South America; Chiyome, rent-a-ninja entrepreneur in sixteenth century Japan; Zubayda, an Arab queen with a Martha Stewart touch - her engineering projects and her parties made history; and English educator Hilda of Whitby, who founded monasteries, promoted local poets, and became a saint - all with equal panache. Excellent and entertaining. [1 copy available]
$ 3.50 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

VASARI ON THEATRE
by Thomas A. Pallen. Condition: NEW c. 1999 Southern Illinois Univ. Press hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: In the process of creating the massive work that eventually became Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, painter and scholar Giorgio Vasari (1511­–1574) spent much of the mid-sixteenth century traveling throughout Italy, meeting Renaissance artists and writing about their lives and works. From this imposing source, Thomas A. Pallen has created a compendium of theatrical references augmented by related modern Italian scholarship. Vasari's Lives—daunting because of its sheer magnitude—has remained relatively obscure to English-speaking theatre historians. To introduce the numerous scenographic references of this great work to the English-speaking audience, Pallen provides new translations of all relevant passages, as well as a table of cross-references to the principal editions of Vasari in both English and Italian. And because Vasari often omitted important information, Pallen annotates the text, providing important names, places, and historical background. Essentially, Pallen divides Vasari's work into four categories: triumphs and pageantry, ingegni for mystery plays and festivals, theatrical scenery, and miscellanea and lacunae. Although triumphs and pageantry were not directly theatrical, they were executed by many of the same artists who worked on theatrical productions and either used or introduced many Renaissance Italian theatrical techniques. The works described here range from tableaux vivants and other forms of street decoration to fireworks displays. While Vasari did not personally know the work of either Filippo Brunelleschi or Francesco d'Angelo (called Cecca), he discusses their inventions for staging mystery plays and street festivals; indeed, Pallen shows how the work of these two artists paved the way for all later Renaissance scenography. Pallen then deals with Vasari's references to and descriptions of the theatrical scenery and lighting effects of his time and the artists who created them. In accordance with the schema developed by Elena Povoledo, Pallen leads the reader through the evolution of scenographic thought and practice from the elementary work of Girolamo Genga to the advanced settings created by Vasari himself. [1 copy available]
$ 6.49 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

THE WANING OF THE MIDDLE AGES: A Study of the Forms of Life, Thought and Art in France and the Netherlands in the Dawn of the Renaissance
by J. Huizinga. Condition: NEW 1954 Doubleday Anchor paperback edition, no printing given. Very pale short crease front cover near fore edge. Tiny edgewear. Interior perfect. Content: Reviewer: Huizinga paints a wonderfully colorful and descriptive picture of the 15th century, but one must be wary of a framework through which he interprets his marvelous work of scholarship. The very title belies this. First of all, that he creates such a demarcation of epoque/periodisation, leads one to wonder how he sees the progress of history as a whole. He sees the 15th century as the end of an era grasping and clinging to old forms. Thus, he (along with Jakob Burckhardt) has tempered our minds to see the Middle Ages as the proverbial "Dark Ages" and the Renaissance literally a rebirth from this darkness. It seems that does not give enough credit to the culture that was alive and well, rather than the bleak, autumnalism that he portrays. It is a great work, though! His command of the literature and history of the time is astounding, and his style is fresh and intriguing." One of those "must-read" history works. [1 copy available]
$ 4.79 + $ 2.94 media shipping..

WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE AGES
by Frances and Joseph Gies. B&W photos & drawings illustrate. Condition: UNREAD 1985 Barnes & Noble Trade Paperback, 6th printing. Although unread, the pages have medium tanning to page edges. Content: This book corrects the omissions of traditional history by focusing on the lives, expectations, and accomplishments of medievel women. Seven women represented come from different classes, countries, and centuries: Hildegard of Bingen (12th-century German nun & mystic); Blanche of Castile (Queen of France); Eleanof de Montfort; Agnes li Patiniere (Flemish textile worker); Alice Beynt (English peasant woman); Margherita Datini (wife of an Italian merchant); and Margaret Paston (Tudor England). Readable history. [1 copy available]
$ 3.95 + $ 2.94 media shipping.

A WORLD LIT ONLY BY FIRE: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance - Portrait of an Age
by William Manchester. B&W photos & maps illustrate. Condition: Gently pre-read 1993 Little Brown hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), second printing. No problems, just pre-read. Content: It speaks to the failure of medieval Europe, writes popular historian William Manchester, that "in the year 1500, after a thousand years of neglect, the roads built by the Romans were still the best on the continent." European powers were so absorbed in destroying each other and in suppressing peasant revolts and religious reform that they never quite got around to realizing the possibilities of contemporary innovations in public health, civil engineering, and other peaceful pursuits. Instead, they waged war in faraway lands, created and lost fortunes, and squandered millions of lives. For all the wastefulness of medieval societies, however, Manchester notes, the era created the foundation for the extraordinary creative explosion of the Renaissance. Drawing on a cast of characters numbering in the hundreds, Manchester does a solid job of reconstructing the medieval world, although some scholars may disagree with his interpretations. [1 copy available]
$ 4.19 + $ 3.09 media shipping.