Medieval Kitchen

Hannele Klemettilä is Adjunct Professor of Cultural History at the University of Turku and a Life Member of Clare Hall, Cambridge. She is the author of Animals and Hunters in the Late Middle Ages (2015).

"A superb new book on medieval food . . . lavishly illustrated." - Sunday Telegraph"Ambitious . . . Scanlan, who wrote 2015’s excellent Easy Riders, Rolling Stones, breaks from the intellectual slumming that often smothers the band, repositioning the Pistols as Malcolm McLaren’s anarchic art project that misfired when they kick-started the UK’s punk revolution and made a ‘classic album’." - Kris Needs, Record Collector"Barbara was the co-author of the well-received book called The Pocket - A Secret History of Women’s Lives, but in this new book, Barbara has a much bigger canvas: to rescue sewing from the twilight and to celebrate it as a fundamental human activity . . . This book is a much broader one that seeks to shine a light on the extraordinary human endeavour of stitching." - Jo Andrews, Haptic & Hue Book of the Year 2023"Scientific botanical illustration flowered in the Renaissance, thrived in the eighteenth century and declined in the nineteenth century with the rise of photography. Today it is generally associated mostly with art. But it remains ‘art with a scientific purpose: to record, display and convey scientific data about plants’, argues Stephen Harris, curator of Oxford University Herbaria, UK. His history, colourfully illustrated with exquisite illustrations unfamiliar outside specialist literature, brilliantly unifies art and science." - Nature"This excellent book unpicks the culture of sewing in fascinating detail. Exploring the history and use of its most basic requirements – cloth, thread, needle and scissors – Barbara Burman delves deeper into the skill, the joy, the challenge of needlework through the words of past and present stitchers to offer an inspiring insight into why sewing matters.'" - Clare Hunter, author of Threads of Life"An excellent book on an important but neglected period in garden history. Mowl, as usual, has researched his topic well and writes beautifully, using evidence and example to great effect." - Tom Williamson, author of Humphry Repton: Landscape Design in an Age of Revolution"Bjørn Berge offers us a treasure trove of insight and reflection. The text sharpens your senses and makes you appreciate the endless variety the world has to offer, which powerful forces are recklessly striving to flatten, homogenize, and standardize." - Dagbladet"The go-to biography going forward . . . Stephens’ achievement is outstanding. All students of Stoicism, or of Roman imperial history, and the readers, by now in their hundreds of thousands, who find the life and work of Marcus Aurelius to be an inspiration, are very much in his debt." - Stoicism Today"The line between the natural and supernatural is blurred in Iceland, where, for over a millennium, farmers and fishermen have eked out an existence and told stories about wizards, hidden folk, ghosts, murderers and trolls. Dagrún’s selection of these Icelandic folk legends immerses the reader in a perilous landscape and provides glimpses into the dangers of the unpredictable behaviors of supernatural beings, while capturing the evolving role storytelling plays in understanding the world around us and the ways in which legend creates meaning for its tellers and audiences alike. Ghosts, Trolls and the Hidden People is a masterful and much needed addition to our growing scholarship on Icelandic and Nordic folklore and will delight readers of all ages and backgrounds. Oh, and be very careful when driving past Skriðinsenni . . ." - Timothy R. Tangherlini, Professor in the Department of Scandinavian, UC Berkeley, and editor and translator of Danish Folktales, Legends and Other Stories"Barbara was the co-author of the well-received book called The Pocket - A Secret History of Women’s Lives, but in this new book, Barbara has a much bigger canvas: to rescue sewing from the twilight and to celebrate it as a fundamental human activity . . . This book is a much broader one that seeks to shine a light on the extraordinary human endeavour of stitching." - Jo Andrews, Haptic & Hue Book of the Year 2023"Many of the legends assembled in Ghosts, Trolls and the Hidden People blend the otherworldly with the everyday . . . Dagrún provides helpful context for these charming stories, which deserve a readership far beyond those murky Icelandic farms." - Pablo Scheffer, TLS"Many of the legends assembled in Ghosts, Trolls and the Hidden People blend the otherworldly with the everyday . . . Dagrún provides helpful context for these charming stories, which deserve a readership far beyond those murky Icelandic farms." - Pablo Scheffer, TLS"Engaging . . . puts Bowie in the context of heavyweights like Michel Foucault, Max Frisch and Erich Heckel, who inspired the cover art for ‘Heroes’." - Paul Burston, The Independent"A superb new book on medieval food . . . lavishly illustrated." - Sunday Telegraph"Sir Thomas More emerges from this valuable and compelling new study of his writings as a vigorous and enigmatic author who shaped the political, religious, and literary life of early Tudor England. Andrew Hadfield and Joanne Paul clearly document the major questions in More studies, while also offering tantalizing fresh insights. This excellent book should satisfy established scholars as well as those encountering More for the first time." - Mark Rankin, Professor of English at James Madison University and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society"In a series of shrewd and finely etched depictions of political figures during the French Directory (1795–9), Biancamaria Fontana’s Desk Revolutionaries deftly rehabilitates the unjustly neglected years that followed the Terror. These backroom boys may have failed to stop the rise of Napoleon, but by their unglamorous commitment to Enlightenment rationalism, bureaucratic paperwork and republican values they showed that the pen was equal to the sword in shaping the long-term legacy of the Revolutionary decade." - Colin Jones, Emeritus Professor of Cultural History, Queen Mary University of London, and author of The Fall of Robespierre"Sex Pistols: Poison in the Machine dares to be different. Why? It is not another regurgitation of the history of the Pistols. It aims to place the reader back in the 1960s and ’70s and explore the Sex Pistols phenomenon as it was experienced in the era that spawned it one of scant information, sparse news outlets and very little access to the music. It reminds the reader how different the world of today is, where Pistols footage, audio and even the Grundy show can be accessed in an instant on the internet. Back in the day, if you didn’t see it yourself, you didn’t see it. Importantly, the book helps define how the myth, controversy and enigma of the Sex Pistols was given oxygen by, ironically, this very vacuum." - SexPistols.net"Sex Pistols: Poison in the Machine dares to be different. Why? It is not another regurgitation of the history of the Pistols. It aims to place the reader back in the 1960s and ’70s and explore the Sex Pistols phenomenon as it was experienced in the era that spawned it one of scant information, sparse news outlets and very little access to the music. It reminds the reader how different the world of today is, where Pistols footage, audio and even the Grundy show can be accessed in an instant on the internet. Back in the day, if you didn’t see it yourself, you didn’t see it. Importantly, the book helps define how the myth, controversy and enigma of the Sex Pistols was given oxygen by, ironically, this very vacuum." - SexPistols.net"Engaging . . . puts Bowie in the context of heavyweights like Michel Foucault, Max Frisch and Erich Heckel, who inspired the cover art for ‘Heroes’." - Paul Burston, The Independent"An accessible read which can stand proud in the sure-to-expand Bowie bibliography." - Paddy Kehoe, RTÉ Entertainment"It’s a fast read, with clean writing and little editorializing . . . [Scanlan] uses quotes and rare photos to give the reader a sense of the time and place, which is as important to the Sex Pistols as the people involved in their rise . . . Great book for fans of the band who need a little more ammo in the face of trite dismissals, or punk history buffs alike – Poison in the Machine is a fascinating read." - Dying Scene"It’s a fast read, with clean writing and little editorializing . . . [Scanlan] uses quotes and rare photos to give the reader a sense of the time and place, which is as important to the Sex Pistols as the people involved in their rise . . . Great book for fans of the band who need a little more ammo in the face of trite dismissals, or punk history buffs alike – Poison in the Machine is a fascinating read" - Dying Scene"The history of the French Revolution often centres on the Twelve who Ruled, or the dozen members of the Committee of Public Safety who headed the first French Republic between 1793 and 1794. Biancamaria Fontana’s Desk Revolutionaries is the first major study of the Five who Ruled, and offers an original examination of the Executive Directory that governed France between 1795 and 1799." - Michael Sonenscher, Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge, and author of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Before the Deluge"Oh no! Not whole-roasted ox again! Even for the aristocracy, medieval fare must have been boring, it's been assumed. The reality was quite otherwise, Hannele Klemettilä reveals. This social history with recipes is as delicious in its details as it is mouthwatering in its presentation . . . More enterprising readers may want to take a stab at some of the 60-odd recipes in which Klemettilä serves up a splendid banquet of forgotten flavours." - The Scotsman"An accessible read which can stand proud in the sure-to-expand Bowie bibliography." - Paddy Kehoe, RTÉ Entertainment"One of the book's great strengths is the effort Dagrún has made to contextualise the tales within Icelandic social history . . . These are vividly told, sometimes brutal, sometimes hilarious tales which offer a wonderfully representative and engrossing conspectus of the long Icelandic past." - Carolyne Larrington, Fortean Times"One of the book's great strengths is the effort Dagrún has made to contextualise the tales within Icelandic social history . . . These are vividly told, sometimes brutal, sometimes hilarious tales which offer a wonderfully representative and engrossing conspectus of the long Icelandic past." - Carolyne Larrington, Fortean Times"Stephens writes with vigor and verve, and he refrains from flaunting the expertise he clearly possesses. It’s to his credit that in this book he faces head-on the controversies surrounding Marcus’ reign." - The Wall Street Journal"Dagrún Ósk Jónsdóttir has selected here nineteenth-century Icelandic legends that offer insights into past beliefs, social attitudes and daily life. They reveal views on gender, class and traditions in rural households. Her commentary provides a deeper understanding, offering a historical perspective from the common folk’s viewpoint." - Rósa Þorsteinsdóttir, Associate Research Professor in Folkloristics, Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies"Impeccably researched and elegantly written, this beautiful book is a must for anyone interested in historic gardens, in Jane Austen’s England or in British cultural history." - Steven Parissien, author of Regency Style and Building Britannia"Visually stunning and astonishing in scope, Stephen Harris's The Beauty of the Flower is a history of botanical illustration that has all the makings of a classic reference text . . . The Beauty of the Flower will delight plant-lovers and scholars alike with its magnificent illustrations and captivating account of the history of botanical study." - Kristen Rabe, Foreword Reviews"[Barbara Burman] pulls off turning a lifetime's research, including her own Our Sewing Stories, into a book by having a strong, thematic narrative, fluent style and empathy with the more personal aspects of needlecraft . . . The book charts the social history of what is still perceived as a "gendered practice". It also explores needlework's moral and religious associations and the benefits it offers to well-being . . . At a more sensory level, evocative descriptions of scissors crunching through cloth, "earthy and seductive" Harris tweed, silk pleated "into rills like the delicate underside of a field mushroom", "swishy, flowy" synthetic jerseys and old-fashioned lutestring, fustian and dimity will resonate with lovers of haberdasheries." - Mary Miers, Country Life"Chronicling the intimate stories of people who sew today, this ‘trenchant’ argument for the importance of sewing in our lives looks at identity, diversity, resilience and memory as it explores why we sew, what motivates us and why we mend things." - Caroline Sanderson, The Bookseller"Oh no! Not whole-roasted ox again! Even for the aristocracy, medieval fare must have been boring, its been assumed. The reality was quite otherwise, Hannele Klemettilä reveals. This social history with recipes is as delicious in its details as it is mouthwatering in its presentation . . . More enterprising readers may want to take a stab at some of the 60-odd recipes in which Klemettilä serves up a splendid banquet of forgotten flavours." - The Scotsman"Sex Pistols: Poison in the Machine dares to be different. Why? It is not another regurgitation of the history of the Pistols. It aims to place the reader back in the 1960s and ’70s and explore the Sex Pistols phenomenon as it was experienced in the era that spawned it one of scant information, sparse news outlets and very little access to the music. It reminds the reader how different the world of today is, where Pistols footage, audio and even the Grundy show can be accessed in an instant on the internet. Back in the day, if you didn’t see it yourself, you didn’t see it. Importantly, the book helps define how the myth, controversy and enigma of the Sex Pistols was given oxygen by, ironically, this very vacuum." - SexPistols.net"Klemettilä who skates across the whole of continental Europe in The Medieval Kitchen . . . reveals the delicacy, craft and complexity that underpinned medieval food . . . the book puts us in touch with an essential element of medieval culture and shows how it shaped that world. In helping to restore its reputation [she] also helps to further repair the standing of an age whose rich sophistication is too often unfairly sneared." - TLS"A timely, well-researched book coming at a point when sewing has been reclaimed by a population free from the limiting gendered experience of school domestic science. The Point of the Needle sets the scene for sewing’s renaissance." - Polly Leonard, founder and editor, Selvedge magazine"It’s a fast read, with clean writing and little editorializing . . . [Scanlan] uses quotes and rare photos to give the reader a sense of the time and place, which is as important to the Sex Pistols as the people involved in their rise . . . Great book for fans of the band who need a little more ammo in the face of trite dismissals, or punk history buffs alike – Poison in the Machine is a fascinating read." - Dying Scene"[Barbara Burman] pulls off turning a lifetime's research, including her own Our Sewing Stories, into a book by having a strong, thematic narrative, fluent style and empathy with the more personal aspects of needlecraft . . . The book charts the social history of what is still perceived as a "gendered practice". It also explores needlework's moral and religious associations and the benefits it offers to well-being . . . At a more sensory level, evocative descriptions of scissors crunching through cloth, "earthy and seductive" Harris tweed, silk pleated "into rills like the delicate underside of a field mushroom", "swishy, flowy" synthetic jerseys and old-fashioned lutestring, fustian and dimity will resonate with lovers of haberdasheries." - Mary Miers, Country Life"Scientific botanical illustrations are collaborations among artists, scientists and publishers. This book explores their evolution since the mid-15th century, the ways in which they have been used to communicate scientific ideas about plants and how views of botanical imagery change." - Garden Answers"The line between the natural and supernatural is blurred in Iceland, where, for over a millennium, farmers and fishermen have eked out an existence and told stories about wizards, hidden folk, ghosts, murderers and trolls. Dagrún’s selection of these Icelandic folk legends immerses the reader in a perilous landscape and provides glimpses into the dangers of the unpredictable behaviors of supernatural beings, while capturing the evolving role storytelling plays in understanding the world around us and the ways in which legend creates meaning for its tellers and audiences alike. Ghosts, Trolls and the Hidden People is a masterful and much needed addition to our growing scholarship on Icelandic and Nordic folklore and will delight readers of all ages and backgrounds. Oh, and be very careful when driving past Skriðinsenni . . ." - Timothy R. Tangherlini, Professor in the Department of Scandinavian, UC Berkeley, and editor and translator of Danish Folktales, Legends and Other Stories"In Icelandic culture from the eighteenth, nineteenth and well into the twentieth century, ghosts, trolls and the hidden people were an integral part of everyday life. Stories of these beings were shared during the long nights at the so-called winter-evening gatherings (kvöldvaka), and these creatures felt just as real to Icelanders as the people sitting beside them. In this remarkable book, readers are invited into that world through the stories told during those times, brought to life and expertly analysed by one of Iceland’s most promising young folklorists, Dagrún Ósk Jónsdóttir. With her insightful commentary, she offers a deeper understanding of these tales and their significance. This is a book no one with an interest in the world of northern European folklore should miss." - Sigurður Gylfi Magnússon, Professor of Cultural History, University of Iceland"The line between the natural and supernatural is blurred in Iceland, where, for over a millennium, farmers and fishermen have eked out an existence and told stories about wizards, hidden folk, ghosts, murderers and trolls. Dagrún’s selection of these Icelandic folk legends immerses the reader in a perilous landscape and provides glimpses into the dangers of the unpredictable behaviors of supernatural beings, while capturing the evolving role storytelling plays in understanding the world around us and the ways in which legend creates meaning for its tellers and audiences alike. Ghosts, Trolls and the Hidden People is a masterful and much needed addition to our growing scholarship on Icelandic and Nordic folklore and will delight readers of all ages and backgrounds. Oh, and be very careful when driving past Skriðinsenni . . ." - Timothy R. Tangherlini, Professor in the Department of Scandinavian, UC Berkeley, and editor and translator of Danish Folktales, Legends and Other Stories"Klemettilä who skates across the whole of continental Europe in The Medieval Kitchen . . . reveals the delicacy, craft and complexity that underpinned medieval food . . . the book puts us in touch with an essential element of medieval culture and shows how it shaped that world. In helping to restore its reputation [she] also helps to further repair the standing of an age whose rich sophistication is too often unfairly sneared." - TLS"Beautifully written by a leading authority on the politics of the French Revolution, Desk Revolutionaries focuses on its later phase, between the end of the Terror and the coming of Napoleon. Through studies of the leading figures in government as they struggled to make the new republican constitution work, Biancamaria Fontana shows that they achieved underestimated successes as well as the failures highlighted by later Napoleonic propaganda. In fact, the regime established by Napoleon could scarcely have worked without patient and unrewarding groundwork by these men, who had sought in vain to bring a successful end to an unfinished revolution. This is a book that nobody interested in The French Revolution, or the ideals and pitfalls of republicanism in general, should miss." - William Doyle, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Bristol, and author of Napoleon at Peace"A useful primer for anyone interested in Marcus’s thought and the tumultuous events that defined his reign . . . Stephens is particularly insightful [on] Christian persecution, which he contextualizes within the broader clash between Roman and Christian moralities." - The New Criterion"Ambitious . . . Scanlan, who wrote 2015’s excellent Easy Riders, Rolling Stones, breaks from the intellectual slumming that often smothers the band, repositioning the Pistols as Malcolm McLaren’s anarchic art project that misfired when they kick-started the UK’s punk revolution and made a ‘classic album’." - Kris Needs, Record Collector"Ambitious . . . Scanlan, who wrote 2015’s excellent Easy Riders, Rolling Stones, breaks from the intellectual slumming that often smothers the band, repositioning the Pistols as Malcolm McLaren’s anarchic art project that misfired when they kick-started the UK’s punk revolution and made a ‘classic album’." - Kris Needs, Record Collector"In addition to his impressive historical account, Scanlan threads a variety of analytical considerations into the book, thus endowing it with a sound intellectual basis. For instance, he investigates a broader disparity between reality and perception and delves into the indispensability of cultural memory. Of the former, he writes that ‘this gap between the reality and its representation – so at odds with the world we live in today, where the gap is non-existent – also added to the perception that the Sex Pistols had, by 1977 already entered the realms of myth’. The author does some important conceptual unpacking for cultural memory as well. He asserts that this memory is embodied by ‘the panoply of media artefacts, material objects and memoirs that feed into various forms of reanimation’. Examples the author provides of these are film documentaries, commemorative events, and exhibitions. In an embodiment of cultural memory and the reality/perception dichotomy, the author presents the reader with the idea that there were two Sex Pistols: manager Malcolm McLaren’s and frontman John Lydon’s. These two groups were an idea and a musical entity, respectively." - Zach Thomas, Rock Music Studies"In addition to his impressive historical account, Scanlan threads a variety of analytical considerations into the book, thus endowing it with a sound intellectual basis. For instance, he investigates a broader disparity between reality and perception and delves into the indispensability of cultural memory. Of the former, he writes that ‘this gap between the reality and its representation – so at odds with the world we live in today, where the gap is non-existent – also added to the perception that the Sex Pistols had, by 1977 already entered the realms of myth’. The author does some important conceptual unpacking for cultural memory as well. He asserts that this memory is embodied by ‘the panoply of media artefacts, material objects and memoirs that feed into various forms of reanimation’. Examples the author provides of these are film documentaries, commemorative events, and exhibitions. In an embodiment of cultural memory and the reality/perception dichotomy, the author presents the reader with the idea that there were two Sex Pistols: manager Malcolm McLaren’s and frontman John Lydon’s. These two groups were an idea and a musical entity, respectively." - Zach Thomas, Rock Music Studies"[Klemettilä] presents a fascinating picture of a very different mindset when it comes to food and inspired me to get a taste of those forgotten flavors . . . While my palate may not be able to take on an all-medieval diet, it was still a fun, experiential way to encounter another age. The recipes will be worth returning to occasionally, a little pinch of history to season my 21st-century table." - National Catholic Reporter"Dagrún Ósk Jónsdóttir has selected here nineteenth-century Icelandic legends that offer insights into past beliefs, social attitudes and daily life. They reveal views on gender, class and traditions in rural households. Her commentary provides a deeper understanding, offering a historical perspective from the common folk’s viewpoint." - Rósa Þorsteinsdóttir, Associate Research Professor in Folkloristics, Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies"Richly illustrated and accompanied by carefully researched contextual material, this book opens a gateway into the wonderful world of Icelandic folk belief of the past, providing access to a number of narratives that have previously only been accessible to those who speak Icelandic. Dagrún Ósk Jónsdóttir invites readers to enter a shadowy world of Nordic darkness, mystery and enchantment; unforgettable surroundings populated by powerful nature spirits, lovelorn ghosts, vengeful outlaws and marauding monsters." - Terry Gunnell, Professor Emeritus in Folkloristics, University of Iceland"The Point of the Needle explores the multifaceted practice of sewing, both the home practice and large-scale global manufacturing. A writer and former academic, Burman seeks to understand what motivates individuals to sew and what they value in the making and in finished pieces. Focusing on clothing/fashion, the book explores stitching’s rich history and culture, and the language that brings together this creative community. Through the structure of stories and storytelling, Burman reveals new voices, presents stories involving the memory of people and places, and shows how the use of cloth and the function of sewing has changed over time. The book illustrates that how we sew, including materials and tools and their storage, is deeply connected to why we sew, and it addresses real-world issues of consumption, change, and defiance. The Point of the Needle is accessibly written to stimulate thoughtful discussions. The oral histories stitched into the chapters make the book a delight to read. Readers will find that Burman’s observations and insights invite them to think about their own histories with sewing and to look at their daily engagement with cloth with a curiosity that encourages responsibility, resilience, and well-being. Highly recommended." - Choice"Dagrún Ósk Jónsdóttir has selected here nineteenth-century Icelandic legends that offer insights into past beliefs, social attitudes and daily life. They reveal views on gender, class and traditions in rural households. Her commentary provides a deeper understanding, offering a historical perspective from the common folk’s viewpoint." - Rósa Þorsteinsdóttir, Associate Research Professor in Folkloristics, Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies"The Point of the Needle explores the multifaceted practice of sewing, both the home practice and large-scale global manufacturing. A writer and former academic, Burman seeks to understand what motivates individuals to sew and what they value in the making and in finished pieces. Focusing on clothing/fashion, the book explores stitching’s rich history and culture, and the language that brings together this creative community. Through the structure of stories and storytelling, Burman reveals new voices, presents stories involving the memory of people and places, and shows how the use of cloth and the function of sewing has changed over time. The book illustrates that how we sew, including materials and tools and their storage, is deeply connected to why we sew, and it addresses real-world issues of consumption, change, and defiance. The Point of the Needle is accessibly written to stimulate thoughtful discussions. The oral histories stitched into the chapters make the book a delight to read. Readers will find that Burman’s observations and insights invite them to think about their own histories with sewing and to look at their daily engagement with cloth with a curiosity that encourages responsibility, resilience, and well-being. Highly recommended." - Choice"A model of thoughtfulness, focus, and clarity, this biography of Marcus Aurelius illuminates both the man and his philosophy. It places his life in historical context while offering a lucid window into Stoic thought." - David Fideler, author of Breakfast with Seneca: A Stoic Guide to the Art of Living"In addition to his impressive historical account, Scanlan threads a variety of analytical considerations into the book, thus endowing it with a sound intellectual basis. For instance, he investigates a broader disparity between reality and perception and delves into the indispensability of cultural memory. Of the former, he writes that ‘this gap between the reality and its representation – so at odds with the world we live in today, where the gap is non-existent – also added to the perception that the Sex Pistols had, by 1977 already entered the realms of myth’. The author does some important conceptual unpacking for cultural memory as well. He asserts that this memory is embodied by ‘the panoply of media artefacts, material objects and memoirs that feed into various forms of reanimation’. Examples the author provides of these are film documentaries, commemorative events, and exhibitions. In an embodiment of cultural memory and the reality/perception dichotomy, the author presents the reader with the idea that there were two Sex Pistols: manager Malcolm McLaren’s and frontman John Lydon’s. These two groups were an idea and a musical entity, respectively." - Zach Thomas, Rock Music Studies"Harris is a wordsmith par excellence who writes with knowledge, wit, and passion. The Beauty of the Flower– apart from being an extremely erudite and comprehensive account of its subject matter – has all the feelof a labour of love . . . The Beauty of the Flower is a fascinating, factual, phytological exploration of the artand science of botanical illustration. It is a beautiful book, that’s very well-researched and referenced . . .insightful, comprehensive, very well-written, and abundantly-illustrated." - PlantCuttings.co.uk"[Klemettilä] presents a fascinating picture of a very different mindset when it comes to food and inspired me to get a taste of those forgotten flavors . . . While my palate may not be able to take on an all-medieval diet, it was still a fun, experiential way to encounter another age. The recipes will be worth returning to occasionally, a little pinch of history to season my 21st-century table." - National Catholic Reporter"The Medieval Kitchen is an admirable effort to elucidate how and what European peoples ate during the late Middle Ages. The authors goal is to move medieval food history away from an emphasis on the elaborate feasts of the aristocracy to a discussion inclusive of the food cultures of agricultural and ruling classes . . . The volume is filled with illustrations from medieval books of hours and other manuscripts informative captions accompanying each illustration give historical context. This book is an ideal introduction to the topic for both students and adventurous cooks. Highly recommended" - Choice"This captivating and carefully researched book comprehensively examines the historical journey of botanical illustration through art and science. Using rarely seen images and with a deep understanding of his subject, Stephen Harris clearly demonstrates his passion for plants. We are fortunate that he has chosen to share his lifelong interest in botany, and its interpretation, with this book, which specialists and non-specialists alike will enjoy." - Valerie Oxley, President, Institute for Analytical Plant Illustration and Chair, The Florilegium Society at Sheffield’s Botanical Gardens"A timely, well-researched book coming at a point when sewing has been reclaimed by a population free from the limiting gendered experience of school domestic science. The Point of the Needle sets the scene for sewing’s renaissance." - Polly Leonard, founder and editor, Selvedge magazine"This excellent book unpicks the culture of sewing in fascinating detail. Exploring the history and use of its most basic requirements – cloth, thread, needle and scissors – Barbara Burman delves deeper into the skill, the joy, the challenge of needlework through the words of past and present stitchers to offer an inspiring insight into why sewing matters." - Clare Hunter, author of Threads of Life"In Icelandic culture from the eighteenth, nineteenth and well into the twentieth century, ghosts, trolls and the hidden people were an integral part of everyday life. Stories of these beings were shared during the long nights at the so-called winter-evening gatherings (kvöldvaka), and these creatures felt just as real to Icelanders as the people sitting beside them. In this remarkable book, readers are invited into that world through the stories told during those times, brought to life and expertly analysed by one of Iceland’s most promising young folklorists, Dagrún Ósk Jónsdóttir. With her insightful commentary, she offers a deeper understanding of these tales and their significance. This is a book no one with an interest in the world of northern European folklore should miss." - Sigurður Gylfi Magnússon, Professor of Cultural History, University of Iceland"This is a rich and well-balanced account of the life and times of one of the most fascinating figures of ancient Rome. Stephens presents Marcus Aurelius in all his human imperfection as he navigates the challenges of war, plague, insurrection, bereavement, and social unrest. A fascinating read for anyone interested in Roman history or Stoic philosophy." - John Sellars, Reader in the History of Philosophy, Royal Holloway, University of London, and editor of The Cambridge Companion to Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations"In Icelandic culture from the eighteenth, nineteenth and well into the twentieth century, ghosts, trolls and the hidden people were an integral part of everyday life. Stories of these beings were shared during the long nights at the so-called winter-evening gatherings (kvöldvaka), and these creatures felt just as real to Icelanders as the people sitting beside them. In this remarkable book, readers are invited into that world through the stories told during those times, brought to life and expertly analysed by one of Iceland’s most promising young folklorists, Dagrún Ósk Jónsdóttir. With her insightful commentary, she offers a deeper understanding of these tales and their significance. This is a book no one with an interest in the world of northern European folklore should miss." - Sigurður Gylfi Magnússon, Professor of Cultural History, University of Iceland"Many of the legends assembled in Ghosts, Trolls and the Hidden People blend the otherworldly with the everyday . . . Dagrún provides helpful context for these charming stories, which deserve a readership far beyond those murky Icelandic farms." - Pablo Scheffer, TLS"The Medieval Kitchen is an admirable effort to elucidate how and what European peoples ate during the late Middle Ages. The authors goal is to move medieval food history away from an emphasis on the elaborate feasts of the aristocracy to a discussion inclusive of the food cultures of agricultural and ruling classes . . . The volume is filled with illustrations from medieval books of hours and other manuscripts informative captions accompanying each illustration give historical context. This book is an ideal introduction to the topic for both students and adventurous cooks. Highly recommended" - Choice"One of the book's great strengths is the effort Dagrún has made to contextualise the tales within Icelandic social history . . . These are vividly told, sometimes brutal, sometimes hilarious tales which offer a wonderfully representative and engrossing conspectus of the long Icelandic past." - Carolyne Larrington, Fortean Times"Richly illustrated and accompanied by carefully researched contextual material, this book opens a gateway into the wonderful world of Icelandic folk belief of the past, providing access to a number of narratives that have previously only been accessible to those who speak Icelandic. Dagrún Ósk Jónsdóttir invites readers to enter a shadowy world of Nordic darkness, mystery and enchantment; unforgettable surroundings populated by powerful nature spirits, lovelorn ghosts, vengeful outlaws and marauding monsters." - Terry Gunnell, Professor Emeritus in Folkloristics, University of Iceland"Drawing on his expertise as a scholar of Stoic philosophy, William O. Stephens has written a splendid assessment of Marcus Aurelius’ predicaments and achievements. I cannot imagine a more timely and sympathetic account of the Stoic emperor’s humanity." - A. A. Long, author of Hellenistic Philosophy and Stoic Studies"Richly illustrated and accompanied by carefully researched contextual material, this book opens a gateway into the wonderful world of Icelandic folk belief of the past, providing access to a number of narratives that have previously only been accessible to those who speak Icelandic. Dagrún Ósk Jónsdóttir invites readers to enter a shadowy world of Nordic darkness, mystery and enchantment; unforgettable surroundings populated by powerful nature spirits, lovelorn ghosts, vengeful outlaws and marauding monsters." - Terry Gunnell, Professor Emeritus in Folkloristics, University of Iceland"This excellent book unpicks the culture of sewing in fascinating detail. Exploring the history and use of its most basic requirements – cloth, thread, needle and scissors – Barbara Burman delves deeper into the skill, the joy, the challenge of needlework through the words of past and present stitchers to offer an inspiring insight into why sewing matters." - Clare Hunter, author of Threads of Life"The Beauty of the Flower twins a dazzling and well-chosen display of botanical illustrations with a cogent and readable analysis of the botanical exploration and science that led to it. Stephen Harris is uniquely well-placed to unpick the connections of art, science and publishing, and his book covers both familiar and unfamiliar ground over the last 500 years. It is generous in its coverage and will appeal to a broad range of readers, whether interested in plants, gardens, history, or the myriad links between them." - Prof. Mark Nesbitt, Senior Research Leader – Interdisciplinary Research, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew"Barbara Burman's insightful journey through the art of sewing delves into its transformative power, weaving together the threads of history, craftsmanship, and personal stories, inviting readers to embrace the profound joys and remarkable significance found within this remarkable craft." - Sarai Mitnick, founder of Seamwork and author of The Colette Sewing Handbook"This is a very human history of the complex meanings of sewing. Burman skilfully conveys the message that sewing has multiple lives, from the emotionally-charged making of gifts for loved ones to the waste-mountain producer that is the modern fashion industry. Above all it showcases how important sewing is to human experience and the huge impact it has on those who experience it." - Ruth Singer, artist and author"Barbara Burman's insightful journey through the art of sewing delves into its transformative power, weaving together the threads of history, craftsmanship, and personal stories, inviting readers to embrace the profound joys and remarkable significance found within this remarkable craft." - Sarai Mitnick, founder of Seamwork and author of The Colette Sewing Handbook"This is a very human history of the complex meanings of sewing. Burman skilfully conveys the message that sewing has multiple lives, from the emotionally-charged making of gifts for loved ones to the waste-mountain producer that is the modern fashion industry. Above all it showcases how important sewing is to human experience and the huge impact it has on those who experience it." - Ruth Singer, artist and author"A book chockfull of historical research and oral history that looks deeply into why and how humans sew, make and repair fabric. A beautiful reminder of how sewing can extend further than ourselves – it can connect us with past, present and future sewists; help us gain awareness of and autonomy from fast fashion; and give us the tools to show up more authentically as we do so." - Betsy Greer, author of Craftivism: The Art of Craft and Activism"Chronicling the intimate stories of people who sew today, this ‘trenchant’ argument for the importance of sewing in our lives looks at identity, diversity, resilience and memory as it explores why we sew, what motivates us and why we mend things." - Caroline Sanderson, The Bookseller"A book chockfull of historical research and oral history that looks deeply into why and how humans sew, make and repair fabric. A beautiful reminder of how sewing can extend further than ourselves – it can connect us with past, present and future sewists; help us gain awareness of and autonomy from fast fashion; and give us the tools to show up more authentically as we do so." - Betsy Greer, author of Craftivism: The Art of Craft and Activism"The Point of the Needle delves into more than the depth of the fibre of cloth and gives evidence why sewing is a matter of more than a moment or a far-gone memory of a past time . . . This book isn’t about the wearable, it isn’t about one element of sewing or genre. It is timely and key to our lives, yet timeless in its documentation of this subject . . . delightful and alternatively thought provoking." - Ailish Henderson, Textile Artist"The Point of the Needle delves into more than the depth of the fibre of cloth and gives evidence why sewing is a matter of more than a moment or a far-gone memory of a past time . . . This book isn’t about the wearable, it isn’t about one element of sewing or genre. It is timely and key to our lives, yet timeless in its documentation of this subject . . . delightful and alternatively thought provoking." - Ailish Henderson, Textile Artist