Editor’s Picks This Month at a Glance
April’s selection of the best medieval history books moves across a world that was anything but insular. It begins with the material traces of Anglo-Saxon England, where objects—bone chests, grave goods, and fragments of crafts—reveal a society shaped by movement and exchange rather than isolation. From there, the focus shifts to the high drama of Plantagenet rule, where monarchy was forged in conflict, negotiation, and the constant testing of authority.
Beyond England, the horizon widens. The Mongol advance across the Near East emerges not simply as a force of destruction but as a moment of profound transformation—reordering power, trade, and cultural contact on a vast scale. Alongside these histories, the selection also turns to the imaginative world of medieval belief, tracing how creatures like trolls carried meaning, fear, and memory across generations. And finally, through a work of historical fiction, we are brought into the intimate, human dimension of the period, where loss, family, and memory remind us that the medieval past was lived as deeply as it was recorded.
Taken together, these books offer something more than a survey of events. They open a series of windows onto the medieval world—its politics, its imagination, and its people—each revealing a past that remains closer and more connected than it first appears.
Explores Anglo-Saxon England through artefacts, revealing identity, migration, and cultural connections across early medieval northern Europe.
Chronicles the rise and fall of England’s Plantagenet dynasty, tracing power, conflict, and monarchy across three transformative centuries.
Examines the Mongol Empire’s expansion and its profound impact on the medieval Near East, reshaping politics, warfare, and societies.
Explores the origins, meanings, and evolution of trolls in Norse myth and folklore, tracing their enduring cultural fascination.
A novel imagining Shakespeare’s family life and the death of his son, exploring grief, love, and memory in Elizabethan England.
Why We Chose These Medieval Reads
Cat Jarman reconstructs the Anglo-Saxon world through objects rather than chronicles, uncovering stories of movement, identity, and belief. From bone chests to burial goods, she reveals a society shaped by migration and exchange rather than isolation. The book challenges traditional narratives, presenting early medieval England as deeply connected to Scandinavia and continental Europe through trade, culture, and shared traditions.
Dan Jones narrates the dramatic history of the Plantagenet kings and queens, from Henry II to Richard II. Combining political intrigue, warfare, and personal ambition, the book explores how this dynasty shaped medieval England. With vivid storytelling, it captures defining moments such as the Magna Carta, the Crusades, and internal rebellions, revealing a turbulent era of authority, legitimacy, and dynastic struggle.
Wars, Dynasties & Crusades
Nicholas Morton explores the Mongol invasions of the Near East, analysing both destruction and transformation. Moving beyond narratives of devastation, he shows how Mongol rule altered political systems, trade networks, and cultural exchange. The book situates the Mongols within the broader medieval world, highlighting their role in connecting regions while destabilising long-standing powers across the Islamic and Christian spheres.
Carolyne Larrington delves into the world of trolls, from their roots in Old Norse mythology to their presence in modern imagination. She examines how these creatures embodied fear, nature, and the unknown in medieval storytelling. Blending literary analysis with cultural history, the book reveals how trolls evolved over time, reflecting shifting beliefs and continuing to influence fantasy and popular culture today.
Maggie O’Farrell’s novel centres on the death of Hamnet, William Shakespeare’s young son, and its emotional aftermath. Focusing on family, particularly Agnes (Anne Hathaway), it explores grief and memory in intimate detail. Though fictionalised, the story evokes the textures of late sixteenth-century life, offering a deeply human perspective on loss and the possible inspiration behind one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies.
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Luciano Anastasi
Luciano is the founder of the MedievalHistory platform and the LinkedIn History Enthusiasts Group, where he is dedicated to curating and sharing high-quality medieval history content. His goal is to engage scholars, teachers, students, and enthusiasts by fostering insightful discussions and promoting scholarly resources on topics from medieval warfare and religion to societal transformations and daily life in the Middle Ages.
Luciano is also an active book reviewer, focusing on academic publications related to medieval history. He recently collaborated with Yale University Press to review forthcoming medieval history titles, aiming to deepen educators' and researchers' understanding of the period. Alongside his history endeavors, he has over 40 years of experience in IT leadership roles across various industries, including the public sector, banking, insurance, airlines and consulting, and has contributed to United Nations projects.
With a Master of Arts in Business Process Management, Luciano combines his expertise in IT strategy and governance with his passion for medieval history. He leverages technology to bridge the academic community and the wider public, making historical scholarship more accessible through engaging online content.
