The Medieval Soldier: 15th Century Campaign Life Recreated in Colour Photographs
Category: Books,History,Military
The Medieval Soldier: 15th Century Campaign Life Recreated in Colour Photographs Details
In a dazzling series of some 270 specially posed photographs, the authors recreate the fighting men of the High Middle Ages set in their 15th century environment. Noblemen and armoured knights, officers and halbardiers, artillery and handgunners, archers and crossbowmen, ladies and camp-followers are placed in realistic outdoor settings and historic interiors in Britain and continental Europe. Read more
Reviews
First and foremost, this book is about the life of medieval soldiers as seen through the lens of medieval reenactors. If you are looking for detailed information about chivalry, armour, specific battles or individual knights there are countless better books written by academic historians. What the authors of "The Medieval Soldier" have to offer are the insights of living historians who have made a go out of trying to recreate the material culture of the late medieval period. The is a perspective absent from many academic works.I own many books with beautiful illustration of the medieval period. Although I love fine illustration, there is nothing like a well photographed image of a modern reenactor to bring history to life. The reenactors pictured in this book are principally from the Company of Saynte George, a Swiss reenactment group. This living history group is at the pinnacle of medieval reenacting. Their historical impressions show a loving attention to detail that is impressive.The authors Gerry Embleton and John Howe are well known commercial illustrators. Their technical skills as photographers are first rate. Their images are well lit and the colors are vibrant. Furthermore, the scenarios they photograph are interesting and will be of interest to the general reader. A better photographic study of the medeival period would be hard to image. Highly recommended.