Chantry Westwell – författare

An illustrated collection of exceptional female figures in myth and legendIn the Middle Ages, some of the most popular and well-loved stories were about female saints, classical heroines, and the female protagonists of romance cycles. The portrayal of these characters conformed to societal attitudes toward women, which changed with the prevailing views of the times. Chantry Westwell has used her profound knowledge of the British Library's unrivaled Medieval, Renaissance, and Asian illuminated manuscripts collections to explore some of literature's most enduring and multilayered stories, together with a deep history of the books and chronicles in which they were preserved. Alongside the heroines of medieval romance, such as Guinevere, and those of Persian epic poetry, such as Layla and Shirin, you will also find the distorted histories of Cleopatra and Olympias from European chronicles and the famous women of classical literature such as Helen of Troy.

Journey through magical fairy tales, chivalric adventures, mystical events and celebrated foundation myths. Trace how folk traditions and the manners of courtly love have developed through generations and across continents and how the most celebrated of ancient stories have become even more fantastical with age.Chantry Westwell has used her profound knowledge of the Library's illuminated manuscript collections to explore some of literature's most enduring and multi-layered stories, together with the deep history of the books and chronicles in which they were first preserved. These powerful tales are presented alongside some of the most exquisite examples of art to survive from the eighth to the sixteenth centuries as medieval artists responded to the inspiring storylines with their own works of supreme beauty.

Chantry Westwell has used herprofound knowledge of the Library's unrivalled Medieval and Renaissanceilluminated manuscript collections to explore some of literature's mostenduring and multi-layered stories, together with the deep history of thebooks and chronicles in which they were first preserved. A follow-up to theauthor's highly successful Dragons, Heroes, Myths & Magic (2021), thisnew volume builds on ongoing trends for re-telling classical and medievalstories from the perspective of female characters as well as exploring howfemale reputations are exalted or ruined to suit the particular ideals ofdifferent eras and cultures. Maidens or Monsters includes dedicated sectionson warrior women, women of virtue, power, tragedy, as well as enigmatic andallegorical women.These powerful tales arepresented alongside some of the most exquisite examples of art to survivefrom the eighth to the sixteenth centuries as medieval artists responded tothe inspiring storylines with their own works of supreme beauty.