Member: elizabetta

To live content with small means, to seek elegance rather
than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion, to be worthy,
not respectable, and wealthy, not rich, to study hard, think
quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars and birds,
to babes and sages, with open heart, to bear all cheerfully,
do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never, in a word to
let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up
through the common, this is to be my symphony.

- William Henry Channing

posted by theoldman at 7:59 am (EST) on Jun 7, 2009

Forgot to mention one medieval mystery author, Caroline Roe. Her series character is Isaac of Girona, a blind, Jewish physician in (I think) 1200s, in Spain. I think the first one is Antidote for Avarice.
sara

posted by saraLlewellyn at 12:02 pm (EST) on Feb 5, 2008

And one of the reasons I fell in love with Cadfael was that I was already interested in herbs! When I had a decent sized garden, I did have herbs, mostly culinary, tho' I did have a comfrey plant - those things get to be 3 feet across!
What other authors do I like - most of them! Not Doherty, as he usually annoys me. But Sharon Newman, Candace Robb, Margaret Frazer I adore, there is an interesting series set in 6th century Byzantium by the Mary Reed and Eric Mayer, I think. Albert Noyes has two in about sixth or seventh western Roman empire that are not great, but its hard to find anything in that era. Michael Jecks. Kate Sedley, tho I have not read her new series. Have you? Any suggestions?
I have a few books with wonderful pictures of herb gardens and love looking at them. I would so love to have a knot garden (sigh.)

posted by saraLlewellyn at 9:30 pm (EST) on Jan 30, 2008

Hi,
When I knew him, Warren Hollister was a most inspiring professor. He obviously worked hard at making his lectures interesting, and would sometimes include music or art from the period. Sadly, I learned much later from Sharon Newman (at a lecture) that he had become much burnt out.
Do you not care for Ellis Peters? I love her, and have most of her books, including those not in the Cadfael series, but I know some people think her too 'sweet.' I agree Cadfael is unlikely for the period, but she writes so well...
sara

posted by saraLlewellyn at 5:27 pm (EST) on Jan 30, 2008

Hello elizabetta,
Thank you for adding mine to your 'interesting libraries." I had put yours in just yesterday!
We do seem to share some interests - ancient history, medieval to Stuart history, historical mysteries. By the way, Warren Hollister "Medieval Europe: a Short History" was my European History professor long ago at UCSB!
saraLlewellyn

posted by saraLlewellyn at 6:21 pm (EST) on Jan 29, 2008