Michael Livingston – författare

‘Like Crécy itself, this book is a triumph and the tale it tells gives an old story new life.’ BERNARD CORNWELL, bestselling author of The Last Kingdom seriesThe battle of Crécy in 1346 is one of the most famous and widely studied military engagements in history. The repercussions of this battle were felt for hundreds of years, and the exploits of those fighting reached the status of legend. Yet cutting-edge research has shown that nearly everything that has been written about this dramatic event may be wrong.In this new study, Michael Livingston reveals how modern scholars have used archived manuscripts, satellite technologies and traditional fieldwork to help unlock what was arguably the battle’s greatest secret: the location of the now quiet fields where so many thousands died. Crécy: Battle of Five Kings is a story of past and present. It is a new history of one of the most important battles of the Middle Ages: a compelling narrative account that nonetheless adheres to the highest scholarly standards in its detail. It is also an account that incorporates the most cutting-edge revelations and the personal story of how those discoveries were made.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 HISTORICAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION NON-FICTION CROWN AWARD'It’s quite a feat to write an account of England’s most famous battle that makes the reader feel like they’re experiencing history that is fresh, new and exhilarating.' Dan Snow This groundbreaking study by Mike Livingston, as featured on History Hit's Agincourt, presents a new interpretation of Henry V's great victory.From Shakespeare’s ‘band of brothers’ speech to its appearances in numerous films, Agincourt rightfully has a place among a handful of conflicts whose names are immediately recognized around the world. Renowned medieval historian Mike Livingston provides a new look at this famous battle, with a foreword by world famous historic novelist Bernard Cornwell.Agincourt takes us back to the original sources, including the French battle plan that still survives today, to give a new interpretation, one that challenges the traditional site of the battlefield itself. It is a thrilling new history that not only rewrites the battle as we know it, but also provides fresh insights into the men who fought and died there.

Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity is a collaborative effort by an international group of addiction scientists to improve the linkages between addiction science and alcohol policy. It presents, in a comprehensive, practical, and readily accessible form, the accumulated scientific knowledge on alcohol research that has a direct relevance to the development of alcohol policy on local, national, and international levels. It provides an objective basis on which to build relevant policies globally and informs policy makers who have direct responsibility for public health and social welfare. By locating alcohol policy primarily within the realm of public health, this book draws attention to the growing tendency for governments, both national and local, to consider alcohol misuse as a major determinant of ill health, and to organize societal responses accordingly.The scope of the book is comprehensive and global. The authors describe the conceptual basis for a rational alcohol policy and present new epidemiological data on the global dimensions of alcohol misuse. The core of the book is a critical review of the cumulative scientific evidence in seven general areas of alcohol policy: pricing and taxation, regulating the physical availability of alcohol, modifying the environment in which drinking occurs, drinking-driving countermeasures, marketing restrictions, primary prevention programs in schools and other settings, and treatment and early intervention services. The final chapters discuss the current state of alcohol policy in different parts of the world and describe the need for a new approach to alcohol policy that is evidence-based, global, and coordinated.A valuable resource for those involved in addiction science and drug policy, as well as those in the wider fields of public health, health policy, epidemiology, and practising clinicians.

This casebook fills a major gap in our cultural knowledge of the Middle Ages. It gathers together for the first time the key historical and literary primary sources for the study of the Battle of Brunanburh (AD 937); a key moment in the history of the British Isles. Produced by an international team of experts, the volume offers the sources in their language of origin - Old English, Old Norse, Welsh, Irish, Latin, Anglo-Norman, Middle English, Early Modern English - with facing-page translations and explanatory notes. Many of the sources are translated here for the first time. In addition, the volume includes a substantial introduction from Michael Livingston and ten wide-ranging essays that provide cultural contexts and lay to rest many of the most controversial questions about the conflict -  including the key matter of where the battle likely took place, identified here . The essays show the lasting significance of this nation-defining battle - both in terms of history and in terms of its impact across more than a thousand years of literature.

This book presents the original text and English translations of the medieval and post-medieval records, documents, poems and chronicles relating to Owain Glyndŵr (1357?-1415, revolutionary and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales), his career and his legacy. In addition, textual notes and essays on the historical, social and literary context of these documents will provide up-to-date perspectives and commentary on the man and his times. For the first time, historians, literary scholars, students and the general reader will be able to view a wide range of materials collected in a single volume and will be able to assess for themselves the significance of Glyndŵr in Welsh, English and European history from the late Middle Ages into the Renaissance – and to redress the imbalance of historical accounts past and present.The high profile international contributors include:John K. Bollard, Independent Scholar of WelshKelly DeVries, Loyola University, MarylandHelen Fulton, University of YorkRhidian Griffiths, Independent ScholarElissa R. Henken, University of GeorgiaMichael Livingston, The CitadelAlicia Marchant, University of Western AustraliaScott Lucas, The CitadelWilliam Oram, Smith CollegeGruffydd Aled Williams, Aberystwyth University

Young People, Alcohol, and Risk theorises the social, cultural and economic shifts that have underpinned significant declines in young people’s drinking in high- income countries.Since the early 2000s, alcohol use among young people has declined significantly in most high- income countries. Situated within a theoretical framework of ‘social generations’ and ‘risk’, this book explores the key interrelated factors that have cumulatively shifted the social and cultural position of alcohol for young people in these countries. Drawing on interviews and survey data from the authors’ research in Australia, Sweden and the UK, as well as the broader international literature, the book explores the importance of changes in attitudes to alcohol, shifting family and parenting practices, digital technology use and changes in leisure practices, neoliberalism and individualism, health and wellbeing, and gendered practices. These factors have made salient the notion of risk for young people, resulting in a culture of caution. This book will be of interest to students and scholars across the social sciences, in particular those studying substance use, youth sociology, cultural studies and public health. It will be of use to policy makers and practitioners working with young people.

With an introduction by Harriet McDougal, Origins of The Wheel of Time by Michael Livingston explores the inspirations behind the acclaimed series The Wheel of Time, including a biography of Robert Jordan for the first time.‘Jordan has come to dominate the world Tolkien began to reveal’ – New York Times on The Wheel of Time seriesExplore never-before-seen insights into The Wheel of Time, including:- A brand-new, redrawn world map by Ellisa Mitchell using change requests discovered in Robert Jordan’s unpublished notes- An alternate scene from an early draft of The Eye of the WorldThis companion to the internationally bestselling series will delve into the creation of Robert Jordan’s masterpiece, drawing from interviews and an unprecedented examination of his unpublished notes. Michael Livingston tells the behind-the-scenes story of who Jordan was (including a chapter that is the very first published biography of the author), how he worked, and why he holds such an important place in modern literature.The second part of the book is a glossary to the ‘real world’ in The Wheel of Time. King Arthur is in The Wheel of Time. Merlin, too. But so is Alexander the Great and the Apollo Space Program, the Norse gods and Napoleon’s greatest defeat – and so much more.Origins of The Wheel of Time will provide exciting knowledge and insights to both new and longtime fans looking either to expand their understanding of the series or unearth the real-life influences that Jordan utilized in his world-building – all in one accessible text.

With an introduction by Harriet McDougal, Origins of The Wheel of Time by Michael Livingston explores the inspirations behind the acclaimed series The Wheel of Time, including a biography of Robert Jordan for the first time.‘Jordan has come to dominate the world Tolkien began to reveal’ – New York Times on The Wheel of Time seriesExplore never-before-seen insights into The Wheel of Time, including:- A brand-new, redrawn world map by Ellisa Mitchell using change requests discovered in Robert Jordan’s unpublished notes- An alternate scene from an early draft of The Eye of the WorldThis companion to the internationally bestselling series will delve into the creation of Robert Jordan’s masterpiece, drawing from interviews and an unprecedented examination of his unpublished notes. Michael Livingston tells the behind-the-scenes story of who Jordan was (including a chapter that is the very first published biography of the author), how he worked, and why he holds such an important place in modern literature.The second part of the book is a glossary to the ‘real world’ in The Wheel of Time. King Arthur is in The Wheel of Time. Merlin, too. But so is Alexander the Great and the Apollo Space Program, the Norse gods and Napoleon’s greatest defeat – and so much more.Origins of The Wheel of Time will provide exciting knowledge and insights to both new and longtime fans looking either to expand their understanding of the series or unearth the real-life influences that Jordan utilized in his world-building – all in one accessible text.

NOW WITH EXCLUSIVE BONUS MATERIALFrom author and scholar Michael Livingston, Origins of The Wheel of Time is an authorised exploration of the inspirations behind the acclaimed series, including the first biography of its creator, Robert Jordan. With an introduction by Jordan's editor and widow, Harriet McDougal. Explore never-before-seen insights into The Wheel of Time, including:- A brand-new, redrawn world map by Ellisa Mitchell using change requests discovered in Robert Jordan’s unpublished notes- An alternate scene from an early draft of The Eye of the World- An exclusive interview with the authorThis companion to the internationally bestselling series will delve into the creation of Robert Jordan’s masterpiece, drawing from interviews and an unprecedented examination of his unpublished notes. Michael Livingston tells the behind-the-scenes story of who Jordan was (including a chapter that is the very first published biography of the author), how he worked, and why he holds such an important place in modern literature.The second part of the book is a glossary to the ‘real world’ in The Wheel of Time. King Arthur is in The Wheel of Time. Merlin, too. But so is Alexander the Great and the Apollo Space Program, the Norse gods and Napoleon’s greatest defeat – and so much more.Origins of The Wheel of Time will provide exciting knowledge and insights to both new and long-time fans looking either to expand their understanding of the series or unearth the real-life influences that Jordan utilized in his world-building – all in one accessible text.‘Jordan has come to dominate the world Tolkien began to reveal’ – The New York Times on The Wheel of Time series

The seven houses of the matriarchal Seaborn have plied the seas of the Fair Isles for centuries, trading among the islands and fending off the attacks by the fearsome Bone Pirate.But suddenly, out of the night sky, a common enemy appears – the Windborn, who come without warning to raid, burn, and kill.Hoping to turn the tide, Shae — the Bone Pirate’s first mate — enacts a daring plan to fight her way aboard a Windborn vessel. The raid yields a prize — the airship’s captain who is, to Shae’s shock, a man.Together with a reluctant heroine, Bela, they learn the truth of their shared history: the Windborn and Seaborn come from the same people, split apart by blood magick when a race of immortal mechanical men betrayed their human makers.Now, these unlikely allies must make a desperate journey to confront the secrets of the past – and stop the dark magick at its source.

In the thrilling sequel to Seaborn, the Windborn threaten war against the Fair Isles – and three women of the sea hatch daring plans to change their fates.Bela, the reluctant hero, journeys into the inhospitable Sea of Ice in search of the ancient portal that broke the world.Shae, the ship-less Bone Pirate, stands with a Windborn exile before an army of remorseless metal beings.And Alira, the huntress, faces the revelation of what the Bloodborn are, and the truth of their horrible magicks.In desperation, in determination, and in hope, every step they take reveals new secrets about their past – and new fears for their future.

In this stunning conclusion to Michael Livingston’s Seaborn Cycle, the Fair Isles sail to battle, legends become real, and new magicks threaten to shatter the world.Bela sails the skies with a reader and a metal man, searching for a path to peace.Shae faces the truth of what it means to love and what she is willing to sacrifice for it.Alira leads desperate refugees seeking a new home—and may at last find one for herself.War rises. Blood sings. And the world of the Seaborn will never be the same.Helm to the end.

A new and radically original account of the longest military conflict in European history, which challenges the conventional periodisation of the ‘Hundred Years War’ to consider a much longer period of Anglo-French conflict.Michael Livingston argues that the English lens through which the war has been viewed has led historians to define it in terms of English interests (most famously, the claim of the English Plantagenet king Edward III to be the rightful king of France), and that the events collectively labelled the ‘Hundred Years War’ are best seen as a sequence of steps in France’s struggle to define itself as a nation. For much of the period, France’s primary rival was indeed England. But it was by no means the only combatant. Burgundy stood in its way, too, as did Brittany, Flanders, Navarre and other rival powers.Viewing France as the primary engine driving the war leads Livingston to consider a much longer timespan, starting with the Anglo-French ‘Pirate War’ of 1292 (which swiftly escalated into a fight over England’s feudal possessions in Gascony) and ending with the marriage of Charles VIII of France to Anne of Brittany by which Brittany was subsumed into the French realm.

A new and radically original account of the longest military conflict in European history, which challenges the conventional periodisation of the ‘Hundred Years War’ to consider a much longer period of Anglo-French conflict.Michael Livingston argues that the English lens through which the war has been viewed has led historians to define it in terms of English interests (most famously, the claim of the English Plantagenet king Edward III to be the rightful king of France), and that the events collectively labelled the ‘Hundred Years War’ are best seen as a sequence of steps in France’s struggle to define itself as a nation. For much of the period, France’s primary rival was indeed England. But it was by no means the only combatant. Burgundy stood in its way, too, as did Brittany, Flanders, Navarre and other rival powers.Viewing France as the primary engine driving the war leads Livingston to consider a much longer timespan, starting with the Anglo-French ‘Pirate War’ of 1292 (which swiftly escalated into a fight over England’s feudal possessions in Gascony) and ending with the marriage of Charles VIII of France to Anne of Brittany by which Brittany was subsumed into the French realm.

The beginning of an epic historical fantasy series that reveals the hidden celestial battle behind the course of history.HISTORY BELONGS TO THE CONQUERORS — BUT THE FUTURE IS FORGED BY THE WEAPONS OF THE GODSJulius Caesar is dead, assassinated on the senate floor, and the glory that is Rome has been torn in two...Octavian, Caesar’s ambitious great-nephew and adopted son, vies with Marc Antony and Cleopatra for control of Caesar’s legacy. As civil war rages from Rome to Alexandria, and vast armies and navies battle for supremacy, a secret conflict threatens to shift the course of history.Juba, Numidian prince and adopted brother of Octavian, has embarked on a ruthless quest for the Shards of Heaven, lost treasures said to possess the very power of the gods — or the one God. Driven by vengeance, Juba has already attained the fabled Trident of Poseidon, which may also be the staff once wielded by Moses. Now he will stop at nothing to obtain the other Shards, even if it means burning the entire world to the ground.Caught up in these cataclysmic events, and the hunt for the Shards, are a pair of exiled Roman legionnaires, a Greek librarian of uncertain loyalties, assassins, spies, slaves. . . and the ten-year-old daughter of Cleopatra herself.Book 1 in THE SHARDS TRILOGY#1 The Ark and the Empire#2 The Spear and the Storm#3 The Ring and the Ruin

'LIVINGSTON HAS SPICED REAL HISTORY WITH A COMPELLING DOSE OF FANTASY!' BENARD CORNWELLThe follow-up to Michael Livingston’s incredible THE ARK AND THE EMPIRE, revealing the hidden celestial conflict behind the Roman Empire we think we know.Alexandria has fallen, and with it the great kingdom of Egypt...Cleopatra is dead. Her children are paraded through the streets in chains wrought of their mother's golden treasures, and within a year all but one of them will be dead. Only her young daughter, Cleopatra Selene, survives to continue her quest for vengeance against Rome and its emperor, Augustus Caesar.To show his strength, Augustus Caesar will go to war against the Cantabrians in northern Spain, and it isn't long before he calls on Juba of Numidia, his adopted half-brother and the man whom Selene has been made to marry – but whom she has grown to love. The young couple journey to the Cantabrian frontier, where they learn that Caesar wants Juba so he can use the Trident of Poseidon to destroy his enemies. Perfidy and treachery abound. Juba's love of Selene will cost him dearly in the epic fight, and the choices made may change the very fabric of the known world.BOOK 2 IN THE SHARDS TRILOGY

Medieval Warfare: A Reader examines how armed conflict was experienced in the Middle Ages both on the field of battle and at home. This comprehensive collection of more than 130 primary-source materials—some translated here for the first time—traces over one thousand years of military developments, including the fall of Rome, the fight for Jerusalem, the building of castles and other fortifications, the rise of gunpowder, and the negotiation of treaties. Developed by two of the leading experts in medieval military history, the readings tell stories of terrors and tragedies, triumphs and technologies in the Middle Ages. By reclaiming the voices of victims and veterans that have previously been ignored, the editors stake out a powerful new perspective on the long history of military conflict and suffering.

‘No one has done more than Michael Livingston to revive memories of the battle, and you could not hope for a better guide.’ BERNARD CORNWELL Bestselling author of The Last Kingdom seriesLate in AD 937, four armies met at Brunanburh. On one side stood the shield-wall of the expanding kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons. On the other side, a remarkable alliance of rival kings – at least two from across the sea – who had come together to destroy the Anglo-Saxons once and for all. The stakes were no less than the survival of the dream that would become England. The armies were massive. The violence, when it began, was enough to shock a violent age. Brunanburh may not today have the fame of Hastings, Crécy or Agincourt, but generations later it was still called, quite simply, the ‘great battle’. For centuries now, its location has been lost but after an extraordinary effort, uniting enthusiasts, historians, archaeologists and linguists the location of these bloodied fields may well have been identified. This groundbreaking new book tells the story of this remarkable discovery and delves into why and how the battle happened. Most importantly, though, it is about the men who fought and died at Brunanburh, and how much this forgotten struggle can tell us about who we are and how we relate to our past.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 HISTORICAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION NON-FICTION CROWN AWARD'It’s quite a feat to write an account of England’s most famous battle that makes the reader feel like they’re experiencing history that is fresh, new and exhilarating.' Dan Snow This groundbreaking study by Mike Livingston, as featured on History Hit's Agincourt, presents a new interpretation of Henry V's great victory.From Shakespeare’s ‘band of brothers’ speech to its appearances in numerous films, Agincourt rightfully has a place among a handful of conflicts whose names are immediately recognized around the world. Renowned medieval historian Mike Livingston provides a new look at this famous battle, with a foreword by world famous historic novelist Bernard Cornwell.Agincourt takes us back to the original sources, including the French battle plan that still survives today, to give a new interpretation, one that challenges the traditional site of the battlefield itself. It is a thrilling new history that not only rewrites the battle as we know it, but also provides fresh insights into the men who fought and died there.

An exploration into why and how Thermopylae is one of the most blood-soaked patches of ground in history – and what its past can tell us about our future.'Brilliantly demonstrated.' - Tom HollandSince the dawn of the Classical Era up to World War II, thousands have lost their lives fighting over the pass at Thermopylae. Historians Cole and Livingston provide an exciting account of each of the 27 battles and holding actions that took place. The epic events of 480 BC when 300 Spartans attempted to hold the pass has been immortalised in poetry, art, literature and film. But no history has ever detailed the other events from the very first battle through to the battles fought by Romans, Byzantines, Huns and Ottomans during the early and late medieval periods and finally the two desperate struggles against German occupying forces during World War II. The Killing Ground details the background and history of each conflict, the personalities and decision making of the commanders, the arms and tactics of the troops, and how each battle played out. Cole and Livingston have surveyed the ground to provide a boots-on understanding of each battle. Their command of multiple ancient and medieval languages means they have provided their own translations of much of the source material, ensuring new insights into each battle. This uncompromising scholarship is woven together into a compelling and unforgettable history that grips the reader from start to finish.

The Siege of Jerusalem has long confounded readers with its graphic depictions of violence and the relish with which it describes the suffering of Jewish people. Despite the moral and emotional challenges this text presents, its participation in the longstanding “Vengeance of Our Lord” tradition, discussed throughout medieval Christendom and incorporating a combination of legend, miracle, historiography, and chivalric romance, provides modern readers with a wider window into this material’s reception and reuse in medieval England. This Middle English alliterative poem, written anonymously sometime in the fourteenth century, chronicles the Siege of Jerusalem in the year 70 CE, beginning with the crucifixion of Jesus and culminating in the Romans’ destruction of the Second Temple, intended to symbolize the vengeance of Jesus. Michael Livingston’s edition and notes bring out a new dimension of this poem, exploring the ways in which it realizes, rather than glorifies, the brutalities of war.

Gower's achievement in writing substantially in all three primary languages of his time-Anglo-French, English, and Latin-was a source of pride to others and, undoubtedly, to him too: into the final years of his life he continued to produce poetry in all three languages. Certainly there is reason to know these poems for the light they shed on the intense partisanship and events of great moment surrounding the usurpation 1399-1400. It was during these parlous times that Gower composed most of the poems included here. All are important documents historically; but they are also poems admirable equally for their skill and craft. In Praise of Peace is in the same position as the shorter Latin works edited and translated in this volume: ignored, neglected, reduced, or relegated to the dusty realm of footnotes. But there is far more at work in this complex poem, as Gower's verse deftly weaves in and out of the historical, political, social, and religious contexts and controversies of its day. In tone, In Praise of Peace is, if not triumphant, determinedly optimistic. In this light, we might view the poem as a coda to Gower's long career, restating and reinvigorating his famously moral principles about just rule of self and society.

Written, according to its anonymous poet, to motivate “sympyll men” toward a greater interest in Scripture, The Middle English Metrical Paraphrase of the Old Testament presents a deft, animated late-fourteenth-century translation and expansion of Peter Comestor’s twelfth-century Historia Scholastica, the single most authorized paraphrase of the Bible for much of the Middle Ages. However, to judge the Paraphrase a mere paraphrase is to undervalue its complexity and importance; it masterfully interweaves material from numerous sources, including an Old French metrical paraphrase, the Northumbrian Middle English poem Cursor Mundi, and several other Middle English texts. In a way few other texts can claim, the Paraphrase engages a breadth of core cultural issues definitive of late medieval England: vernacular translations of the Bible, the Bible’s influence upon medieval romance and vice versa, a trend toward realism in conceptions of individual and social circumstances, cultural heterogeneity, and greater sympathy toward women and Jews.

Composed for King Henry VI in the middle of the Wars of the Roses, Of Knyghthode and Bataile adapts the most widely used military manual in the Middle Ages into English verse. That work is here edited by Michael Livingston and Trevor Russell Smith from all four surviving manuscripts, and presented with a contextualizing introduction and copious notes and glosses. Responding to both the evolution of warfare and the historical background of his own time, its anonymous poet produced what one critic has called "one of the most brilliant military poems of the fifteenth century."