In 1204, the great Angevin Empire created by the joining of the dynasties of Henry II of England and his queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, was fragmenting. At its height, the family landholdings had been among the largest the world had ever seen. From the border of England and Scotland in the north to south of the Pyrenees, it seemed there was nowhere in Europe destined to escape Plantagenet control. Yet within five years of his accession, King John's...

As a person's religious convictions, especially in times past, can be considered fundamental to their character and behaviour, the nature of King Richard III's piety has been the subject of considerable debate. Much of this controversy has focused on the Book of Hours adopted by the king for his own private use following his coronation, and to which certain prayers, including that known as the 'Prayer of Richard III', were added. In The Hours of...

"June, 1381. Embarking on his annual pilgrimage to Canterbury, Geoffrey Chaucer and his fellow travellers are forced to turn back when confronted with a horde of armed and angry peasants, intent on marching to London. Returning to the city to warn the authorities of the approaching danger, the pilgrims hole up at the Tabard Inn and prepare for the coming invasion. That same night, a woman's body is fished out of the River Thames, her throat cut. When...

"Watermark is a powerful novel about the destructive forces unleashed by ignorance and superstition.  Readers will care deeply for the courageous Auda." -New York Times bestselling author Sharon Kay Penman Watermark is a magnificent debut by Vanitha Sankaran-an atmospheric and compelling novel about the search for identity, the power of self-expression, and value of the written word, set during the dark days of the Inquisition in Medieval...

Since losing his knighthood, Crispin Guest has reinvented himself as an investigator for hire known as the Tracker. But his reputation will once again be put to the test with his latest case. Jacob of Provençal, a Jewish physician at the king's court, is missing a set of documents that he claims contain the power to bring forth a dangerous demon. Meanwhile, it seems a monster has already been unleashed on the city. Vulnerable street children are...

"A glitteringly dark historical novel of love, persecution, and survival set against the backdrop of one of history's most terrifying episodes: the Bubonic Plague. It is 1665 and the women of Eyam village keep many secrets. Especially Isabel and Mae. Isabel Frith, the village midwife, walks a dangerous line with her herbs and remedies. There are men in the village who speak of witchcraft, and Isabel has a past to hide. So she tells nobody her fears...

In 1453, seventeen-year-old Luca Vero, accused of heresy and expelled from his monastery, is recruited to help investigate evil across Europe but frees his first subject, Isolde, from captivity in a nunnery, and together they seek the one who defends theboundaries of Christendom and holds the secrets of the Order of Darkness.

Keen to learn but short on time? Get to grips with the life of Saint Thomas Aquinas in next to no time with this concise guide. 50Minutes.com provides a clear and engaging analysis of the life, work and ideas of the medieval philosopher Thomas Aquinas. Unlike many of his influential predecessors, Aquinas believed that reason and faith are not separate and incompatible, but rather are two ways of attaining knowledge of God. He was a prolific commentator...

Les Aventures du Chevalier Don Quichotte seraient-elles le prétexte pour Miguel de Cervantes de donner à voir le chemin à suivre de tout chevalier chrétien hors temps ? Don Quichotte le Chevalier à la triste figure serait-il le chevalier de la foi ? La réponse se trouve sous la plume de son créateur, le dramaturge Miguel de Cervantes, dans celle de sa créature portée par le chapitre XXXII, Partie 2 : écho spirituel telle une parole testamentaire...

Extrait: "Vers le XIe siècle, l'Italie était divisée en marches et comtés. Chacune de ces divisions obéissait à un chef dont le pouvoir, quoique parfois héréditaire, était cependant véritablement électif; non que son choix dépendît des votes du peuple, car il était conforme à la volonté des empereurs..." À PROPOS DES ÉDITIONS LIGARAN Les éditions LIGARAN proposent des versions numériques de qualité de grands livres de la littérature...