Friday, May 8, 2020

Medieval Myths & Mysteries (The Great Courses), by Dorsey Armstrong (author, narrator)

Audible Originals, September 2019

This is a great set of lectures about medieval Europe and what many of us think we know that just wasn't so. We get lively accounts of King Arthur (almost certainly real, though not called either "King" or "Arthur"), and Robin Hood. We learn about the Knights Templar and the origins of a very popular modern conspiracy theory, and what the medieval Europeans did and didn't know about the physical world.

Medieval bestiaries and real or fanciful travelogues, and a really interesting suggestion for the possible origin of the Questing Beast add a lot of fun to the listening. And Armstrong finishes up with a look how George R.R. Martin drew on medieval history to make A Song of Ice and Fire/The Game of Thrones a rich and fascinating story.

It's entertaining, informative, and fun.

Recommended.

I got this from Audible's expanded May selection of free Audible Originals, and am reviewing it voluntarily.

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