Böcker av Luke Daly

Explore the vibrant tapestry of the Middle Ages through the lives of medieval saints, revealing intimate perspectives on faith, fear, and societal change, while delving into topics resonant with today's world.Step into the captivating world of the Middle Ages with Saints and Sinners, a groundbreaking exploration of history like no other. In this remarkable narrative, each chapter takes you on an immersive journey through time, unveiling the vibrant tapestry of events that shaped the medieval era told through the stories of Medieval Saints who experienced them.Gone are the distant voices of emperors and kings; instead, we hear from ordinary people who witnessed the world around them, sharing their intimate thoughts, fears, and attitudes towards world-changing events. Experience the gripping anxiety, fear, and paranoia that accompanied threats to the kingdom of heaven, as these saints fought to defend and restore their faith. But, as the Church solidifies its position, discover how saints were then utilised as instruments of control to shape public order.Saints and Sinners goes beyond a mere historical account, delving into topics that resonate with today's world. Uncover the incredible history of Ethiopia, once a magnificent empire that fell into despair at the hands of Christianity, shedding light on Black History; delve into the history of gender and sexuality through the misogynistic St Cuthbert and worship of 'trans-saint' Wilgefortis; and witness the fight for equality in indigenous populations in the Americas through St Louis Bertrand. Through these stories, saints become a lens to examine the attitudes and complexities of their time.Prepare to be enthralled as Saints and Sinners weaves together engaging narratives, captivating miracles, and enthralling stories of saints to produce a masterful retelling of the Middle Ages which not only satisfies the curiosity of general readers but also offers a deep understanding of the Middle Ages and Christianity's evolution.

Over the last century, many historians have examined the monastic records, rolls, and financial accounts of Canterbury Cathedral. Yet, although the politico-religious, architectural, and administrative history of the priory has been for the most part researched, a close analysis of the earliest thirteenth-century records has been surprisingly neglected. Nevertheless, the period c.1200 - c.1230 remains crucial to our understanding of the priory's development, marked by a series of turbulent events, including the monastic exile from 1209, the granting of Magna Carta, the First Barons' War, and the Translation of the relics of St Thomas to their new shrine in 1220. Whilst the records available for this period are not as abundant as those from later centuries, in part due to the administrative 'dark age' of the exile, the priory's financial accounts, in conjunction with secondary material within this project, provide more than adequate materials from which a study can be attempted.