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Medieval Bodies: Life and Death in the Middle Ages
Medieval Bodies: Life and Death in the Middle Ages | Jack Hartnell
9 posts | 8 read | 1 reading | 5 to read
With wit, wisdom, and a sharp scalpel, Jack Hartnell dissects the medieval body and offers a remedy to our preconceptions. Just like us, medieval men and women worried about growing old, got blisters and indigestion, fell in love, and had children. And yet their lives were full of miraculous and richly metaphorical experiences radically different from our own, unfolding in a world where deadly wounds might be healed overnight by divine intervention, or where the heart of a king, plucked from his corpse, could be held aloft as a powerful symbol of political rule. In this richly illustrated and unusual history, Jack Hartnell uncovers the fascinating ways in which people thought about, explored, and experienced their physical selves in the Middle Ages, from Constantinople to Cairo and Canterbury. Unfolding like a medieval pageant, and filled with saints, soldiers, caliphs, queens, monks and monstrous beasts, this book throws light on the medieval body from head to toerevealing the surprisingly sophisticated medical knowledge of the time. Bringing together medicine, art, music, politics, philosophy, religion, and social history, Hartnell's work is an excellent guide to what life was really like for the men and women who lived and died in the Middle Ages. Perfumed and decorated with gold, fetishized or tortured, powerful even beyond death, these medieval bodies are not passive and buried away; they can still teach us what it means to be human. Some images in this ebook are not displayed due to permissions issues.
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RosePressedPages
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Pickpick

Hartnell discusses perceptions and beliefs of various parts of the body during the Medieval period. He includes both Christian, Jewish, and Muslim beliefs rather than only focusing on Western Christendom, which I appreciated. It was both entertaining and informative!

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catiewithac
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@JamieArc thank you for the perfect birthday gifts! I made a banana cake with peanut butter frosting last week that was very good, but I can‘t wait to try these gourmet spice medleys!!! And this book! It‘s so beautiful! I love these chocolate mints, too! (P.S. Abby devoured the MI sour cherries!!!) Thank you so much for your kindness and friendship!! #LitsyLove

Soubhiville What a great book cover! I‘ll have to look for this. Happy Birthday! 2y
Sapphire Penzeys is awesome and their cinnamon the best. 2y
JamieArc You‘re welcome ☺️ I hope you had a great birthday! 2y
56 likes3 comments
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Moray_Reads
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Pickpick

An interesting look at bodies in the medieval period. Hartnell proceeds head to foot, considering religion, philosophy, medicine and art. A lot of the material was familiar since I have a particular interest but I still enjoyed revisiting it. The book itself is beautifully produced, with crisp, clear colour illustrations that you don't often get in paperbacks. This is number 1 for my January #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y
36 likes1 comment
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Moray_Reads
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This chapter deals with bones, including what happened to them after death. On the left is the incredible 15th century tomb of Alice Chaucer (granddaughter of Geoffrey), juxtaposing her idealised image above with a more realistic representation of her body below. Alice was a duchess by the time of her death and even received the Order of the Garter

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Moray_Reads
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That cover, though 😍
(Shame about the sticker 🙄)

erzascarletbookgasm That‘s a great cover! 3y
LeahBergen Ooo! 😍 3y
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Minimalgrl
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Audiobook while doing all the adulting today 🧺🧹🛒🧽🚰

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SkullyAnne
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Mehso-so

It's a stunner of a book, visually speaking, and for once actually discusses the Islamic world. But the prose didn't grab me, so more for enthusiasts.

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Emilyrjones22
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Pickpick

LOOK how beautiful this book is. Full of gorgeous morbidity and fun things to learn 🤗

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Emilymdxn
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Part two of my art history book haul to make myself feel better on a v. difficult day. Currently locked out of my office so taking advantage of the chance to sit on a bench in the quad and try to relax for ten minutes #bookhaul #art #arthistory

MayJasper Hi I too am from 🇬🇧 6y
Emilymdxn Hey there @MayJasper just followed you! 6y
MayJasper I hope your day improves 6y
brendanmleonard This looks amazing! 6y
19 likes4 comments