Description
Book SynopsisA captivating journey of the expansive world of medieval travel, from London to Constantinople to the court of China and beyond.
Trade Review"Stunning…[The history in Bale's narrative is] all weird and wonderful and quietly hilarious, but the enormous fun of this book would not be possible without solid graft—Bale’s dogged research and his diligent crafting of perfect prose." -- Gerard DeGroot - The Times (UK)
"Informative and entertaining…Medieval history buffs should take note." -- Publishers Weekly
"A global Middle Ages for our times. Anthony Bale reinvents and redefines the period through its intrepid travelers.… A joyful, erudite book." -- Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in Twelve Maps
"A Lonely Planet book for the medieval traveler, full of tips, conversion rates, and lists of what to pack. In this deeply researched but witty and readable guide, Anthony Bale brings us face-to-face with medieval travel—the sights and smells, the thrill and the homesickness—in a way that feels instantly recognizable even at so many centuries’ distance." -- Dennis Duncan, author of Index, A History of the
"Rich and wonderful.… This is the world as you have never seen it before—and as it will never be seen again. And it’s more surprising, extraordinary, and bizarre than anything you can possibly imagine." -- Ian Mortimer, author of The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England
"Intrepid, entertaining, unfailingly curious…balancing sympathy with skepticism, Anthony Bale marvelously reconfigures the contours of our forebears’ knowledge." -- Marina Warner, author of Once Upon a Time
"An enthralling journey into the past and across the world, packed with incidents that any reader will find deliciously exotic, yet wryly familiar." -- Seb Falk, author of The Light Ages
"Beautifully written and vividly imagined,
A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages is a book to be savored." -- Helen Castor, author of She-Wolves
"A gorgeous and fascinating storybook and a richly satisfying journey into the medieval mind." -- Michael Pye, author of The Edge of the World
"This endlessly delightful book replicates the promises and pleasures of real travel, as we bump into and then lose sight of familiar faces in unfamiliar places. Anthony Bale is an adroit, companionable, and non-judgmental host on the road; he wears his deep knowledge lightly." -- James Simpson, professor of English at Harvard University
"Vivid, exciting and astonishing, Anthony Bale’s medieval world is one populated by marvels and fantasies. Bale’s exploration is informed always by gentle and empathetic reflection upon what it means to be a fragile human being in motion through strange lands, both then and now." -- John Arnold, professor of Medieval History at the University of Cambridge
"What a fascinating read! A new fact to be discovered on every page, written with enthusiasm and wisdom." -- Rev. Kate Bottley
