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Historical A Companion to Medieval England (1066-1485) by Nigel Saul $34.99 / Tempus / 2000 With numerous reference texts about medieval England already weighing heavily on library and bookstore shelves, readers may wonder if we need yet another one. Perhaps we do, as University of London Professor Nigel Saul has produced an encyclopedic reference that stands apart from the rest. In this volume, Saul has skillfully distilled key elements of medieval history and culture into one essential tome. He navigates easily through an astonishing variety of topics, from explaining how stained glass windows were made to discussing the social and economic impact of feudalism on medieval England. The alphabetized list of medieval people and places may look familiar, but Saul's ability to bring detail and insight into medieval life bring an added dimension of living history to each topic he discusses. The narrative describing medieval industry, for example, traces the well-known evolution of medieval industry and commerce. Interestingly, the problems described have a strangely contemporary ring, as labor disputes arose when work shifted away from guild weavers to cheaper countryside workers. Medieval England also witnessed the struggle of industry against environmental concerns as Londoners complained that coal production and use fouled the air. At the same time, Saul's discussion of more ordinary topics, such as medieval diet, illuminates how far civilization has come. (Food consumption in medieval England was limited, in part because quite simply, forks had not yet been invented!) A key strength of this book is the author's balanced view of historical people and events. King Henry V, as Saul suggests, was actually a highly skilled warrior, not the carousing youth conjured up by Shakespeare. Even the notorious King John is credited for having effective management skills. Generously illustrated with photographs of medieval art and architecture, A Companion to Medieval England should become an essential reference for anyone with an interest in English medieval history. —Barbara Friedmann

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