Drafty castles, stone construction, floors strewn with rushes, noble ladies' trailing gowns... Anyone who's read any historical fiction set in the Middle Ages is familiar with these popular Medieval motifs, but I have been troubled by a number of questions about these items. Perhaps we have some period history mavens who can ease my confusion? (Warning: Long! Strewn! Possibly moldy.) [more inside]
posted by taz on Sep 23, 2009 - 28 answers

I'm looking for the best books about life in the middle ages. I am keeping the question as open as possible but I do have a few areas of specific interest. [more inside]
posted by fire&wings on Mar 14, 2009 - 25 answers

Any good reading about apothecaries in the middle ages? [more inside]
posted by slyrabbit on May 14, 2008 - 7 answers

Looking for a book - modern fiction, middle ages genre (not a romance novel!) [more inside]
posted by Liosliath on May 6, 2007 - 9 answers

What's the real origin of the concept of romantic love? [more inside]
posted by serazin on Oct 11, 2006 - 15 answers

Michael Wex, in his Born to Kvetch, mentions a book called Toldot Yeshua (or possibly Toldos Yeshua), a medieval Yiddish manuscript that proposes that Jesus was a parlor trick artist, Mary an unclean woman and that Peter was a devout Jew that diverted Christianity out of Judaism (or something along those lines). Now, I'd quite like to learn more, ideally reading the book myself. Do any of you have any more info on it? Does there exist an English translation?
posted by Kattullus on Mar 31, 2006 - 8 answers