<p>Scholar, churchman, diplomat and theologian, Gerald of Wales was one of the most fascinating figures of the Middle Ages and The Journey Through Wales describes his eventful tour of the country as a missionary in 1188. In a style reminiscent of a diary, Gerald records the day-to-day events of the mission, alongside lively accounts of local miracles, folklore and religious relics such as Saint Patrick's Horn, and eloquent descriptions of natural scenery that includes the rugged promontory of St David's and the vast snow-covered panoramas of Snowdonia. The landscape is evoked in further detail in The Description, which chronicles the everyday lives of the Welsh people with skill and affection. Witty and gently humorous throughout, these works provide a unique view into the medieval world.</p>

The Journey Through Wales and The Description of Wales (Penguin Classics)

Gerald of Wales

Literature & Fiction

Penguin Classics

<p>Gerald of Wales was among the most dynamic and fascinating churchmen of the twelfth century. A member of one of the leading Norman families involved in the invasion of Ireland, he first visited there in 1183 and later returned in the entourage of Henry II. The resulting Topographia Hiberniae is an extraordinary account of his travels. Here he describes landscapes, fish, birds and animals; recounts the history of Ireland's rulers; and tells fantastical stories of magic wells and deadly whirlpools, strange creatures and evil spirits. Written from the point of view of an invader and reformer, this work has been rightly criticized for its portrait of a primitive land, yet it is also one of the most important sources for what is known of Ireland during the Middle Ages.</p>

The History and Topography of Ireland (Penguin Classics)

History

Europe

Journey Through Wales (Everyman's Library)

Littlehampton Book Services Ltd.

History and Topography of Ireland

His Topographia Hiberniae is an account of Ireland and its early history as seen by a Norman in A.D. 1185. The tone is colored by the circumstances in which Giraldus wrote, but his credulity is delightful and his gift for storytelling matchless.

The Dolmen Press Ltd./Dufour Editions Inc.

Gerard of Wales on the Instruction of Princes

Llanerch Press

Gerald of Wales, or Giraldus Cambrensis, was a medieval clergyman and historian who served as the royal clerk and chaplain to King Henry II of England. Gerald of Wales was afforded the opportunity in 1185 to accompany the King's son John on his first expedition to Ireland. Because of those travels he would write his first of many works by penning the "Topographia Hibernica" or the "Topography of Ireland". The work is an account of the landscape and people of Ireland and was one the longest and most influential works on the country during the Middle Ages. Shortly after writing this work he would compose his "Expugnatio Hibernica" or the "Conquest of Ireland" in which he accounts King Henry's conquest of the country. For those interested in Irish History the "Topology" and the "Conquest", both contained in this volume, give an interesting perspective from one of the foremost medieval historians.

The History and Topography of Ireland

Cambrensis, Giraldus

Digireads.com

Born about the year 1140 in the foothills of the Alps near Grenoble, Hugh of Avalon became a Carthusian monk at La Grande Chartreuse, observing an ascetic discipline devoted to prayer and contemplation. In his mid-40s, he was summoned to England to help found the first Carthusian monastery in that country at Witham in Somersetshire. His success was such that in 1186 he was elected Bishop of Lincoln. As bishop, Hugh helped to make Lincoln a center of learning, rebuilding the cathedral in the new Gothic style and winning the respect of the leaders of his age, including Pope Innocent III and the kings of England, Henry II, Richard I, and John (who helped carry the bier at Hugh's funeral in 1200).Hugh gained a reputation for sanctity and mercy during his life thanks to his concern for the poor, his love for children, his hospitality, and his defense of the Jews. His kindness, wit and cheerful disposition won him a wide circle of friends, including a wild swan which guarded him while he slept and subsequently became his chief iconographic emblem. Hugh was perhaps most famous for delivering a stinging public rebuke to Richard I, which the king received with grave humility. Hugh was canonized a saint in AD 1220.This edition of the Vita Sancti Hugonis, originally written by St. Hugh's contemporary Gerald of Wales, is the earliest biography of Hugh and contains both the original Latin and a translation in English by Richard M. Loomis. Divided into two parts, the first treats of Hugh's life, deeds, virtues and death. The second part contains a fascinating litany of miraculous events associated with those who visited the saint's tomb. The volume also includes a detailed introduction by the editor and an appendix containing an excerpt from the Metrical Life of St. Hugh describing the construction of Lincoln cathedral, as well as several illustrations and photos. Overall, the work provides an intimate portrait of one of the outstanding churchmen of the age and offers a window into life in 12th century England.

The Life of Saint Hugh of Avalon (Fontes Mediaevalium)

Giraldus

Religion & Spirituality

Evolution Publishing & Manufacturing

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