So I am pretty deep into the contemporary sources on Nikolaus von Flüe, or "Bruder Klaus"--the fifteenth-century hermit who will become the patron saint of Switzerland. Now, "living saints" in the Middle Ages who attract a lot of public attention not uncommonly draw criticism as well as admiration and wonder. Holy women and men get labeled frauds, witches, possessed, thieves, vagabonds, hysterical, deluded, heretics, miscreants in general.

Whether or not the word is just an anti-Swiss metaphor, this is still the first time I have seen a saint get called a cowf#cker.

I finished Tobias Capwell's Armour of the English Knight 1400-1450 (well, except the appendix). I talked a bit about this book before in a previous thread when I started reading it.

As far as its thesis goes, I think Capwell does a good job of demonstrating his core points:

-English funerary effigies* represent an accurate portrayal of the armour of the English Man at Arms of the 15th century

-English armour was distinctively adapted for the English way of fighting, which emphasized foot combat, and did not emphasize shock charges with couched lances.

In the end both of these points are convincing after Capwell provides such a mountain of minute details. The armour that is depicted in effigies shows the variations and features of actual armour, and in a number of cases follows the design and development of surviving armours from continental Europe. Where it diverges, the pieces still 'fit together' as it were, and demonstrate adaptations for dismounted combat

-Many features depicted (closed thigh armour, closed upper arm armour, -inner- side wings on the knees, long skirts) protect areas that are vulnerable when fighting on foot, like the inside of the leg/knee and the groin (which would be protected by the horse and saddle when mounted).

-Other features are designed to provide optimum mobility on foot, like the gap English armours have between the greave and sabaton (foot armour), which gives a fuller range of motion to the foot.

-Many of these features are mirrored the design of surviving foot combat armours from later in the 15th century.

In conclusion, this book fills in a massive gap in the study of armour by treating English armour in full detail, rather than giving it to cursory treatment that previous authors had. In the broader historiography, I think it provides a strong modern example of contextualizing armour as it was meant to be used. Past authors have attempted this but many of their conclusions are speculative and dubious (I have read arguments that fluting was designed to deflect arrows better). By grounding his discussion in concrete concerns like protection in different positions and a range of motion, Capwell is able to reconstruct the context for an object that survives only in depictions.

*sculptures of a deceased person, created to memorialize them and encourage the living to pray for them

I am looking for some good books about a few topics and was hoping someone could provide me with ideas. Is their any books you would recommend on the History of Food History of Brian and European Imperialism? If you can thanks.

Hello! I am interested in finding some more information on American Indians, if anyone has any interesting reading they can throw in my direction.

I'm interested more in learning about the daily life, the routines, the social structure, the relationship with neighboring tribes, etc of primarily Plains tribes, tribes in the Northeast United States and even some of the more northern (but not necessarily Inuit/Eskimo north). Less interested in the indigeneous tribes of the South, Central America and South America.

Historical accounts, tales, well researched fictitious accounts. Anything would be great.

Hi. So, I'm planning on getting a copy of Guns, Germs and Steel but I'd like to know if anyone has any alternatives to recommend. I'm looking to build my meager book collection with anthropological works that help give me an intergrated view of ancient history. Anything on ancient global networks or dealing with defining civilisation will be much appreciated. Thanks.

Anyone read Rites of Peace by Adam Zamoyski? I've heard good things and am looking for a book on post Napoleonic diplomacy, and was wondering what you guys thought

I'm reading up on UK/US interventions/support/aid to German reconstruction after WWI and WWII respectively. After WWI for example, there was much more scope for volunteer organisations while after WWII the role of the state was much larger. I'm only just starting out so if anyone has any suggestions for good background reading on those sorts of topics, it would be much appreciated.

I'm looking for any scholarly articles on Japanese internment in Hawaii during WW2. Its for a research paper I've been working on, and I want to see if there is anything I've missed that's available online.

I have been to do some research on Italy after the WRE fell. Could anyone here recommend any books on the Kingdom of Odoacer or on the Ostrogothic Kingdom? Thanks in advance.