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oldshrewsburyian · 1 year

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As much as I adore your (highly) interesting takes on medievalism and how it differs from what we actually know (or hypothesize) about the medieval period, I don't think I've ever asked: are there any books set in either the real middle ages or some fantasy approximation of the period that you WOULD recommend? They don't have to be "perfect" representations, obviously, but it would be nice to learn about any books that side-step the usual potholes. Thank you!

Hi, friend! A of all, thank you; B of all, there are and I would. From the following list it will become apparent that my criteria are idiosyncratic. Really, I think, the most important thing for my own enjoyment -- for any historical fiction, but especially for that set in the place/time I know best -- is that the work and its author are exploring the period as a way of opening up a conversation between past and present, rather than looking down on the past from the vantage point of the contemporary. This sententious prolegomenon concluded:

The Book Smuggler, Omaima Al-Khamis (eleventh-century Islamicate world, about knowledge and wisdom and religious intolerance)

Morality Play, Barry Unsworth (fourteenth-century England, about justice and law and vocation and community)

The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco (doesn't need my introduction, hilarious and deeply poignant meta-meditation on the genre of the detective story, also on theological debates and the love of one's neighbor and the nature of fear)

Sword at Sunset, Rosemary Sutcliff (fifth-century post-Roman Britain, has some clichés, also some magic, but is so richly imagined and full of people I love. Also good dogs.)

Cadfael Chronicles, Ellis Peters (twelfth-century England; I was wondering why I love these so much and I think a lot of it comes back to how much Ellis Peters loved the particular place she lived/set the books in, and watching the changing of the seasons there, so that that close observation of time -- very medieval! -- is also central. Inequality isn't made invisible or grotesque here, either, and it's often one or the other in Fictional Medieval Europe.)

Isaac of Girona mysteries, Caroline Roe (C14 Spain, also whodunits, but I cannot resist including this charming series about a blind Jewish doctor and his beloved wife and his daughters and the orphan he adopts and his chess-playing buddy the bishop and and and....! It's great.)

The History of the Siege of Lisbon, José Saramago (C12/C20 Portugal, called "metafiction about the instability of history and the reality assumed by fiction" by Kirkus Reviews and... yeah!)

She Who Became The Sun, Shelley Parker-Chan (C15 Ming China, with ghosts, definitely fantasy rather than regular historical fiction, and on the cusp of early modernity, also so so interesting)

The Apothecary's Shop, Roberto Tiraboschi (C12 Venice, deeply weird -- affectionate -- and drawing on Calvino and gialli as well as medieval history; some inaccuracies about women and medicine but I still found it compelling and thought-provoking)

#historical fiction #fun with medievalism #book recommendations #asks and answers

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tickfleato · 4 months

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pony

#mlp #my little pony #medieval demon #demon #pony #my art #fancharacters #i'm not into mlp but i think they're fun to draw

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katabay · 3 months

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ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WAS A KNIGHT...

the visual inspiration for this was a combination of Frederic William Burton's Meeting on the Turret Stairs and also Bernardo Cavallino's The vision of St. Dominic receiving the Rosary from the Virgin

this was supposed to be just a one off illustration to get the thoughts out of my system, but then I started thinking about medieval politics and warfare and plagues and a castle and home as both a place of refuge, a prison, and a tomb, so perhaps they will end up as ex voto characters as well.

you may say, hey! that rosary looks like it has too many beads! it's a fifteen decade rosary, probably. dominicans are really into marian devotions. it works out.

also. spiral style stair cases. oh boy. it was that unexpectedly more difficult than I originally thought it would be to draw. the more I think about it, the less I understand them, even though I had a million photos of the stairs in front of me while I was drawing it.

⭐ I have a tip jar (ko-fi)!

⭐ and other places I’m at! bsky / pixiv / pillowfort /cohost / cara.app

#the economy and my bank account are in shambles and i ended up stress drawing this whole thing in one go #its so many lines. the next time i draw this. because i will be revisiting this composition. i want to use a different inking brush #i think. but the next time i draw this it will be with solid blacks on the stair case steps i think #hey here's a fun fact for those of you who aren't catholic. did you know that kissing the ring of the pope/a cardinal/etc #grants you an indulgence. cardinals also used to kiss the pope on the mouth. also foot and hand iirc. anyway #there are no cardinals in this drawing but im saying if you write medieval/renaissance smut about men of the cloth #you can really amp up the friction between holy and seductive with a lot of the (gestures vaguely) that.#actually another fun fact about cardinals. their fun sun hat (it's called a galero) has some fucking weird as hell fever dream (literally)#origin lore. so if seductive isn't your thing. the horror of a thing that you wear is also extremely fun #esp when you get into medieval gender performances of clothes and how they define a person etc #generic medieval tag #original tag

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sanctus-ingenium · 7 months

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Collectable woodblock prints commemorating individual conquests were commonplace in the theocracy, distributed by the church as a way to announce its victories.

get a print here :>

#setting: mez #just wanted to draw something mindless & fun tonight. what's up #medieval bestiary art #fantasy worldbuilding #pantera got the final blow in with aid from the other pictured beests

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steellegacy · 4 months

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#friday humor #knight #medieval #средневековье #middleages #history #armor #armours #история #harnisch #armadura #armour #humor #fun

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penig · 2 years

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Scot’s The Talisman, Chs. XXI - End

Yeah, so, if it’s not being spoon-fed me from e-mails I suck at applying the reading brakes for myself. This whole bit is downhill slope into the sublimely ridiculous. And now I don’t want to give more spoilers to anybody trying to keep in step with the book club, most of whom will probably never see this, anyhow.

So I will content myself with, Whew! That’s a lot of disguises! and Oh, good, the male dwarf counterbalances his role in Sir Kenneth’s disgrace (which was not voluntary) with a voluntary role in the triumph of justice.

#Scot's The Talisman #fun with medievalism

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archerinventive · 4 months

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“We’re not just friends, we’re partners in crime when it comes to mischievous thoughts.”

As the year comes to an end, I find so much comfort looking back at all the good times we've had.

This moment comes from the first weekend of Midsummer with some of the crew.

Here's to many more shenanigans and adventures to come in the New Year. :)

Knights: Emma R, and Rae.

Photo by: Liv F.H.

#faire friends #mischeif makers #knights of loreamour #archerinventive #dame archer #knights #rogue #paladin #mermaid #renn faire #medieval #renaissance faire #Midsumner #having fun in spite of it all

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callisteios · 4 months

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I have a new uquiz for you, go on a pilgrimage with me. discover who you are.

#don't you want to go on a nice medieval pilgrimage?#don't you want to rest a little? answer some questions? learn something about yourself?#this was originally a pentiment medieval quiz and now it's this #it's pretty good imo though. i had a lot of fun researching it #yes there really is a biblio. ill write it up soon but its parts of the pentiment biblio plus some stuff i found myself #really thank you to everyone who made pentiment. you know how sometimes you find a piece of art at exactly the right time?#well i discovered pentiment just as my interests perfectly intersected with it. (those interests being history historiography and grief)#have fun etc. tag your results #that's always great #quiz #uquiz #pentiment #medieval #mine #sorry for being absent for a bit. holidays kind of suck #sorry abbie i couldnt fit the saw bathroom in thisone. i couldn't think of a way to do it naturally #i listened to SAVED! and SINNER GET READY the entire time i was writing this so yeah there's a ref. sue me

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scudden · 7 months

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Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons

#I FINALLY finished my second medieval manuscript border drawing #want to draw more but they take me soo long but its also fun #so please give me some other asoiaf characters you want a portrait of and I might get to them #thinking about doing Brienne or Jaime or Cersei next or maybe another Stark idk #soo many choices!!!#I am riding off of my limited book knowledge because ive only recently started reading so apologies if my designs are off or something!!#daenerys targaryen #daenerys stormborn #got #asoiaf #asoiaf art #asoiaf fanart #daenerys #khaleesi #daenerys art #my art #valyrianscrolls #agot #csp

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focsle · 1 year

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I went to a Medieval Times once for a friend’s 21st birthday party. And the knight ours was set against was the knight of a 10 year old birthday party across the way. The other two competing knights on the other half of the stadium had crowds that clearly could not give a shit about cheering on their Champion, it was very quiet over there, everyone just peaceably eating their chicken legs. But let me tell you…a kingdom of a bunch of drunk 21 year olds having a birthday and a kingdom of a bunch of hyped up 10 year olds having a birthday have the exact same energy and we were just screaming our bloodthirsty demands across the stadium to have one knight end the other.

#it was so much fun lol #I’d do a Medieval Times Again…#this memory was triggered by seeing someone I know sharing instagram stories at medieval times

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oldshrewsburyian · 9 months

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Daniel Lavery is being hilarious about medievalism (and "Renaissances.") I love him.

#daniel lavery #the rare art of the essay #fun with medievalism

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ghouljams · 8 months

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I DONT KNOW WHY, but bewitched by laufey awfully reminds me of knight ghost with princess reader

except the song would be ghost's pov

abso-fucking-lutely you're right on all of that. Here's the bewitching:

If you'd told Ghost that he'd be called on to be the crown princess's personal guard, he would've laughed. He would've told you he was hardly interested in such an "honor" and that he's sure her most royal brattiness must have better prospects to scare off. Surely you must have been such a petty handful that the other knights offered the position had declined, leaving him next in the long line.

Although, it was flattering to hear he was even in consideration. He'd sure worked his ass off to be the best of the best. Making something out of nothing but a failing title thanks to his father's- Well, the man was a better father 6ft underground than he'd ever been in life, and that's all he really needed to say on it. Ghost didn't think much of the summons. He couldn't ignore it, of course, but that didn't mean he had to take it seriously. He could run a little late.

Ghost's pace is slow as he walks through the castle. Admiring the architecture, he told his escort, who looked far less than pleased with that answer. He did his best to stall, hopefully the princess would be fuming by the time he arrived and he could be dismissed easily. No muss, no fuss.

Uneven footsteps race down the hall behind him as he and his escort turn the corner. He pays it no mind, likely a maid, no reason to pay them mind. Until they slam into his back and bounce off. He turns, wide eyed, in time to see you fall on the floor, landing hard on your ass with a pained expression. It doesn't fit such a pretty face. Your chest heaves as you try to catch your breath, and Ghost has to shake himself out of staring at you. His escort has already scurried ahead to see about buying him some time.

"You alright?" Ghost asks, helping you to your feet. You wobble a little, he keeps hold of your hand to keep you steady. "You broken?" He tries, brow furrowing at your changing height as you shift on your feet. He doesn't know you, he certainly wouldn't be here if he did.

"No," You lift your foot, and Ghost glances down, one of your feet already in just a sock, "but, I'm afraid I'm running terribly late." You tell him, glancing behind you and pushing your hair out of your face as you unlace your remaining shoe.

"Maybe I can help you, where-" Ghost watches as you tug your shoe off and shove it against chest.

"Hold that please," He blinks, and takes the heel from you, judging by your clothes you must be of high status. He's never seen a lady running around barefoot before. "Now if you'll excuse me, Sir Knight, I really am in a rush, and I have a baron hot on my tail attempting to hold me hostage another hour still."

Another glance behind you, one Ghost leans to check for as well. You must be quick to have outrun a man he can't even see the sweat of. He wonders if you lost your other shoe somewhere along the way or if you, perhaps, threw it at the baron to buy yourself some time. That look in your eyes is wickedly clever when it meets his again. You nod to him once and slip around him to take off running again.

"Wait, I'm-" Ghost stops, and sighs watching you slide around another corner. "The fuck am I supposed to do with this?" He grumbles to himself, tossing your shoe to his other hand as he walks. He'll pass it off to his escort once he meets up with him again. He's pretty sure he went the same way you did.

The escort looks rather harried when he spots him in front of the reception chamber's doors. Big fancy things that have guards waiting to open them on either side. His escort enters to tell the King and Queen that the newest guard candidate has arrived. Ghost tries not to eavesdrop.

"I haven't needed an escort since I was a little girl I'm-"

"A flight risk," The Queen says firmly

"I'd hardly call running from a daft old man a flight risk," The King grumbles. Ghost chuckles a little to himself. His escort slips back out of the throne room to tell him they're not quite ready for him. Which seems strange considering how much time they've had to prepare.

A maid exits one of the nearby rooms with a pair of slippers and something clicks in Ghost's head. Despite his escort's best attempts at stopping him, Ghost enters the throne room with the maid, and watches your sweet face fall as silence covers the royal family. The maid too, it seems, doesn't know what to do.

"Sir Simon Riley," Ghost announces himself, "I was called about being her highness's personal guard."

"It seems you've already run into each other," The Queen's lips purse, eyes on the heeled shoe in Ghost's hands. He offers the offending shoe to the maid, and takes the slippers.

"This is really-" You whisper to him, Ghost hums, slips the silk slipper onto your foot. You swallow, try again, "I'm sorry to have troubled you, I can't imagine how you must think of me."

"Briefly," He tells her. You're still standing at the bottom of the steps to the throne; apparently having had time only to argue with your parents, not take your seat, in the time between bumping into him and getting here.

"Sir Riley," you start.

"Ghost," he corrects you, "if I'm going to be your guard, I'd like you to call me Ghost."

"Ghost," you start again, not even a hint of annoyance in your voice. Actually, you sound a little embarrassed. It's cute. He likes how easily you give in to him. "I'm sure you'd find this position terribly boring, and a waste of your many talents."

Ghost drops to one knee, and pats his thigh, you quickly raise your foot to settle on him.

"I mean, I'm really not the flight risk my mother thinks I am, and I hardly think you want to accompany me on diplomatic excursions-" he holds your ankle to slip the new house shoe on "-or trips into town. Wouldn't you rather be off, I don't know, fighting marauders and dragons?"

"What do you think knights do, princess?" He smiles, setting your foot on the floor and prompting you for the other one. "It's my privilege to serve you, one I'm enjoying so far."

You feel heat brust over your cheeks, finally taking in the man in front of you. This man is a trained combatant and yet here he is helping you put your shoes on. Christ, you'd literally run into him, and now he was. Why was he treating you so nicely, he should be laughing at the idea of serving you.

"No," He murmurs back, "You can't imagine what I think of you." He stands as you settle your foot back on the ground, and takes your hand, bowing his head to kiss the back of it. "But, rest assured those thoughts are good, my lady."

#acts of service acts of service acts of service #wow princess u sure take orders really fucking readily for someone in a position of power #just with Ghost huh? wonder what thats about #cod x reader #simon ghost riley #x reader #simon ghost riley x reader #ghost x reader #simon ghost x reader #ghost mw2 #knight!Ghost #princess!reader #medieval au #i fucking adore natural subs and i think its fun putting them in positions of power sue me #this one doesnt hurt i hope you all enjoy the fluff

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theartofmadeline · 4 months

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courtly love

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sarenhale · 3 months

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More Volya sketches! My Shadar-kai paladin noble in Waterdeep.

I played him the first time on Saturday, I've never played a noble character in my whole life, and it was so fun

#made a fun mockup thing with some random ass medieval paper i found on google lol #sketches #dungeons and dragons #dungeons and dragons art #dnd #dnd art #d&d #d&d art #dnd oc #shadar kai #myart #myoc #myocs #original character #ocs #volya #digital drawing

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echooefrost · 1 month

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uh-oh Who gave Hyde a scythe?!

Do not fear, the sickles aren't gone! I just wanted to draw him with a big ass Scythe. Orignally I did not intend to do a background but things happen and I think it actually looks pretty good ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I haven't drawn a proper illustration in a while so I'm sorry, but I promise I have something to do with the au coming very soon! In the meantime, take this while you wait

I noticed there's a lot of new people in the fandom (Hallo!) so if you don't know what this is refer to my orignal post here

#the glass scientists #tgs #tgs hyde #tgs edward hyde #tgs fanart #tgs medieval au #echo's au's #He's a dramatic guy what can I say?#ik its been very hyde heavy content lately but he's so fun to draw #Lemme draw the bastard #the swoopy-slashy thing looks a bit funky please excuse it - i was trying something out ok?#tgs au #the glass scientists au

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penig · 2 years

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Scot’s The Talisman, Chs. XII-XX.

Sir Kenneth will have to face up to it: regardless of what he expects or hopes for, at base his feelings for Edith are not as courtly as all that. A decision this dumb requires the contribution of the downstairs brain. But now the plot starts rolling right along and stopping is not a viable option for awhile. Nothing picks up the pace like a truly boneheaded move.

Hmmm...it looks to me as if the Bad Guys have an inside woman in Berengaria’s household, to get the guard put on the standard pinpointed so accurately in such a short period of time. But I may be thinking like a 20th-century author there.

Berengaria and Richard deserve each other, I see. One is hot-headed and vain and one is silly and vain. At least they get along.

I like Edith, now that she gets dialog and stuff. She may be a goody-two-shoes but she’s neither timid nor stupid, and patience may or may not come naturally to her but she’s pretty good at it. She obviously gets lots of practice. Not above some passive aggression when it’s called for, either - she can hardly get any other kind of aggressive at Richard!

And here’s the hermit popping up in the middle of camp as if by magic to plead for Sir Kenneth. Probably he’s just here with the treaty result. The timing seems awfully short to me, but the plot’s rolling along fast enough now I’m not going to fuss about it.

Poor doggy! Hakim really goes the extra mile trying to keep everybody and their dog alive (literally), and he finally explains what the title is about,which, I had been wondering.

I want Sheerkouf back, but at this rate it’s not looking good. Maybe if Hakim gets Sir Kenneth out of the camp and behind enemy lines...Totally unfair of Sir Kenneth to blame him for any of this, but after a night of no sleep, bad decisions, disgrace, remorse, and nearly-dead dog, I doubt he’s in a mood to be fair.

#The Talisman #fun with medievalism #non-sims #literature

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