Richard Barber

From Geoffrey of Monmouth to T.H.White here is a sample of Arthurian literature through the centuries.

An Illustrated Anthology

The Arthurian Legends

Tales from the dawn of Christianity to the age of the Plantagenets reveal a mythology in its time as potent as that of the classical world.

Myths & Legends of the British Isles

Nisi Shawl

Patrick Lacey

Marlena Frank

Michael Picco

Betty Rocksteady

Johann Thorsson

Pete Kahle

John Taff

Wednesday Friday

Aaron Worth

Leigh Harlen

B. T. Joy

Shawn Francis

Erin Jendras

Jared Adams

Sallie McDaniel

Logan Noble

Jenny Orosel

Meryl Stenhouse

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD VENTURE OUT OF YOUR HIDING PLACES, HERE COMES ANOTHER HORDE OF HORRORSSlithering, wriggling, lurking, and creeping. Leaving slick trails of pustulent slime behind them. These aren't your run-of-the-mill monsters populating the pages of this tome. No, these critters feed on the fear that bubbles up inside you when all appears lost and the scent of blood is on the wind. Now is the time to face these demons and read on. NOT YOUR AVERAGE MONSTER, VOL. 2:A MENAGERIE OF VILE BEASTS 19 more creatures gestated in the sick minds of: Jared Oliver AdamsRichard Farren BarberShawn FrancisMarlena FrankWednesday Lee FridayLeigh HarlenErin Michelle JendrasB.T. JoyPatrick LaceySallie McDanielLogan NobleJenny OroselMichael PiccoBetty RocksteadyNisi ShawlMeryl StenhouseJohn F.D. TaffJohann ThorssenAaron Worth THIS NIGHTMARE HAS JUST BEGUN!

A Menagerie of Vile Beasts

Not Your Average Monster, Vol. 2

The Reign of Chivalry

This highly-illustrated volume, by bestselling author Richard Barber, shows how medieval princes proclaimed their special status through displays of magnificence.

And Princely Splendour in the Middle Ages

Magnificence

A fascinating recreation of the world of one of England's most charismatic monarchs, from award-winning author and historian Richard Barber The destruction of the French army at Crécy in 1346 and the subsequent siege and capture of Calais marked a new era in European history. The most powerful, glamorous and respected of all western monarchies had been completely humiliated by England, a country long viewed either as a chaotic backwater or a mere French satellite. The young Edward III's triumph would launch both countries, as we now know, into a grim cycle of some 90 years of further fighting ending with English defeat, but after Crécy anything seemed possible - Edward's claim to be King of France could be pressed home and, in any event, enormous rewards of land, treasure and prestige were available both to the king and to the close companions who had made the victory possible. It was to enshrine this moment that Edward created one of the most famous of all knightly orders, the Company of the Garter. Barber writes about both the great campaigns and the individuals who formed the original membership of the Company - and through their biographies makes the period tangible and fascinating. This is a book about knighthood, battle tactics and grand strategy, but it is also about fashion, literature and the privates lives of everyone from queens to freebooters. Barber's book is a remarkable achievement - but also an extremely enjoyable one. Reviews: 'Barber [has an] infectious passion for and deep knowledge of his subject matter ... elegant prose and rigorous historical analysis ... a valuable and thorough addition to the body of work on this most impressive of English monarchs' Sunday Times 'In Edward III and the Triumph of England [Barber] has written the kind of book that the king would have enjoyed: full of battles, glitter and ceremony ... he has an original eye and an elegant pen' Jonathan Sumption, Literary Review 'Barber share's his hero's love of chivalry ... The book sparkle[s] with some of Edward's own glitz' Telegraph 'This absorbing book is layered rather than linear, sifting with uncommon sensitivity through challenging sources to test the boundaries of what we can and cannot know ... We discover the complexity of the world in which Edward and his commanders lived' Helen Castor, The Times About the author: Richard Barber has had a huge influence on the study of medieval history and literature, both as a writer and as a publisher. His major works include The Knight and Chivalry (winner of the Somerset Maugham Award), Edward Prince of Wales and Aquitaine, The Penguin Guide to Medieval Europe and The Holy Grail: The History of a Legend. He lives in East Anglia.

The Battle of Crécy and the Company of the Garter

Edward III and the Triumph of England

Henry II (1154-89) through a series of astonishing dynastic coups became the ruler of an enormous European empire. One of the most dynamic, restless and clever men ever to rule England, he was brought down both by his catastrophic relationship with his archbishop Thomas Becket and his debilitating arguments with his sons, most importantly the future Richard I and King John. His empire may have ultimately collapsed, but in Richard Barber's vivid and sympathetic account the reader can see why Henry II left such a compelling impression on his contemporaries.

A Prince Among Princes

Henry II (Penguin Monarchs)

The story of Henry II's turbulent relationship with Thomas á Beckett, Queen Eleanor, and his sons Richard and John. A tie-in with the BBC2 mini-series.

A History Of Henry Ii And His Sons

Devil's Crown

The tenth volume of Arthurian Literature continues some ofthe themes of earlier issues, as well as exploring unfamiliar andcontroversial ground. The second part of CHRISTINE POULSON's survey of the Arthurian legend in 19th-century art is an analysisby subject of the works catalogued by artist in Arthurian Literature IX. A. H. W. SMITH provides a substantial update to MaryWildman's bibliography of modern Arthurian literature which appearedin Arthurian Literature II, adding not only recent works butalso many items missing from the earlier list. Mr Smith also contributesan article on Ponticus Virumnius and the text of Gildas, one of themore intriguing mysteries ofArthurian text history, and sets outVirumnius' claim to have seen a poem by Gildas which has since disappeared. ARMEL DIVERRES writes on the origins of Chretien de Troyes'Conte del Graal; he argues that we should seek thepoet's inspiration in the crusading activities of Philip of Flanders, supporting his case with a careful examination of many otherwise difficult passages in the poem.

Arthurian Literature X

Henry II, through a series of astonishing dynastic coups, became the ruler of an enormous European empire that stretched from the Channel almost to the Mediterranean. One of the most dynamic, restless and clever men ever to rule England, he was brought down by his catastrophic relationship with his archbishop Thomas Becket, and his debilitating arguments with his rebellious sons Richard and Geoffrey, and later his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine. His empire may have ultimately collapsed, but in Richard Barber's vivid and sympathetic account we see why Henry II left such a compelling impression on his contemporaries. He creates a portrait of a man of great energy and learning, whose zeal for good government left a legacy that survives in Britain today, yet whose fiery temper and desire for control would ultimately destroy him.

Henry II

This anthology shows the diversity of the Arthurian legends and their many sources by presenting contrasting versions of the stories of Arthur, Gawain, Tristan and other medieval Arthurian heroes - and heroines.

Legends of Arthur

The Holy Grail is an image familiar to us all as an almost unattainable, infinitely desirable goal. The idea has passed into everyday speech and the legends behind it are as current in today's culture as they have ever been. And yet the Grail has no real religious meaning and is nowhere mentioned in the Bible. What is the truth behind this elusive symbol? Here, Barber traces the history of the stories surrounding the Holy Grail. He describes how through a long series of imaginative transformations, the grail has moved from the sphere of romance to religion, and in twentieth century popular culture has become an emblem of mysticism and man's highest aspirations, intimately linked with the central ritual of the Christian faith. The search for the grail has always been described as a quest; in this book, Barber goes on his own quest, brilliantly exploring the richness of the Holy Grail's cultural impact. Barber traces the history of legends surrounding the Holy Grail, from Chretien de Troyes' great romances to the popular bestsellers of the late twentieth century.

The History of a Legend

The Holy Grail

Letters, reports, campaign diaries and the chronicles of Geoffrey le Baker and Chandos Herald document the life and dazzling exploits of the legendary Black Prince.

From Contemporary Letters, Diaries, and Chronicles, Including Chandos Herald's Life of the Black Prince

The Life and Campaigns of the Black Prince

Edward, prince of Wales and Aquitaine, known as the Black Prince, is one of the legendary figures of English history, victor of three great battles and a model of chivalry and courtesy. Behind this image, which many of his contemporaries eagerly believed in, it is difficult to get at the realities of the life that he led. Most of his biographers have based their work on the vision of chivalry conjured up by Froissart, but the present book shuns this approach, to see what can be found in official records, particularly from those who campaigned with the prince. Special attention has been paid not only to the confused accounts of the great battles, but also to the prince's early years, his close companions who contributed to his successes, and to his government of Aquitaine, a very important part of his career. A number of persistent errors in early histories, deriving from Froissart, are corrected. A concluding chapter examines how the legend of the Black Prince (and his curious nickname) came into being. By separating the image and the reality, a clearer picture of the prince emerges.

A Biography of the Black Prince

Edward, Prince of Wales and Aquitaine

Wolfram von Eschenbach

Cyril Edwards

Parzival is the greatest of the medieval Grail romances. It tells of Parzival's growth from youthful folly to knighthood at the court of King Arthur, and of his quest for the Holy Grail. Cyril Edwards's fine translation also includes the fragments of Titurel, an elegiac offshoot of Parzival.

Parzival and Titurel

Richard Brown

Julian Munby

A dramatic archaeological find at Windsor Castle reveals Edward III's 'House of the Round Table', designed to show off Edward's power and prestige at a crucial moment in his attempts to lay claim to the throne of France.

The House of the Round Table and the Windsor Festival of 1344

Edward III's Round Table at Windsor

The corner of south-west France comprising Gascony and the Dordogne is the quintessence of provincial France. Many will be content to enjoy the douceur de vivre, the good food and the unspoiled countryside, but for those who are interested in the past this is rich terrain. Much of England's history between 1154 and 1453 was bound up with events in the region, as the French lands of Henry II remorselessly slipped from the grasp of the English kings. This is the land of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Gaston Phebus, the scene of Richard I's death, and of the Black Prince's triumphs and disasters. It is also the landscape in which some of the greatest medieval poetry and architecture was created; here many of the troubadours lived, and the lofty castles, Romanesque churches, and fortified villages of their time still beguile the traveller of today. RICHARD BARBER is an expert guide to the region and its history: he made his name as a medieval historian with biographies of Henry II and the Black Prince, and his important study The Knight and Chivalry is rooted in the society of the vast dukedoms of south-west France.

The Companion Guide to Gascony and the Dordogne

Attractive selection conveys well their recurrent concerns with land, money, civil violence, flirtation, marriage, and the purchase of ginger and lace. MEDIUM AEVUM Vivid first-hand accounts of life in England at the time ofthe Wars of the Roses, presented in their historical context. Essential reading on the English middle ages.

A Family in the Wars of the Roses

The Pastons

Provides information on the actual life of King Arthur along with the development of the legends that surround his life.

Richard Barber

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