This book discusses the genre of medieval history as it relates to pop culture and popular film. Haydock argues that medievalism is often misrepresented in popular films and that film creators create a type of medieval imaginary around medieval history. Haydock provides examples of how this genre has been represented through analysis of certain films. This book has been not only interesting in providing a new view on medieval movies but as a history minor this book has also been a valuable research material in creating a paper and discussing how modern culture has changed medievalism.

The Norman invasion is not something I have ever considered looking into before reading this book. However, after reading I have found myself much more interested in Italian history. This book provides a thoroughly researched perspective on the Norman conquest of Italy and shows how modern Sicilian and Italian culture came to be as they are. It is a dramatic story focused on a family’s conquest of Italy and Sicily and their challenge of the famous Byzantine empire and the catholic church.