[MR] Books of interest to Scadians

[Garth G. Groff]

Friends,

Here are two new books in Alderman Library of interest to Scadians which 
were waiting my attention when I returned from vacation:

ARTHUR TUDOR, PRINCE OF WALES: LIFE, DEATH & COMMEMORATION, edited by 
Steven Gunn and Linda Monckton (ISBN 9781843834809, our call#: Alderman 
DA3330.8 .A78 A78 2009. Henry VIII's older brother Arthur died of 
unknown causes in 1502. He had long been looked upon as the hope of the 
nation to at last heal the lingering pain of the War of the Roses. 
Arthur's childhood bethrothal to Katherine of Aragon was part of a grand 
alliance that was to cement England's security against their traditional 
enemy France. His untimely death threw the country into chaos, with even 
more trouble to follow when Henry, who married his brother's widow, 
demanded a divorce 25 years later. Ah, history! This book is a series of 
contributed essays on Arthur, his position in national and 
Euro-politics, the consequences of his death (Henry again!), and the 
later looking back to his life as a golden age now lost. This book 
covers it all, from his childhood to his lavish tomb (still intact), and 
the reenactment of his funeral in 2002. The book has many fine 
black-and-white illustrations, plus eight pages of color plates, some of 
which show interesting costume elements. There is even a fine view of 
the horse ridden into Worchester Cathedral in the 2002 reenactment.

If that isn't enough, consider THE ALCHEMY OF PAINT: ART SCIENCE AND 
SECRETS FROM THE MIDDLE AGES by Spike Bucklow (ISBN 9780714531724, our 
call# Fine Arts ND1510 .B83 2009). Bucklow, a trained chemist and art 
conservator, discusses the pigments used in middle ages art and 
illuminations in great detail. He covers both the manufacturing 
techniques and the cultural significance of colors. Sorry, only a few 
black and white illustrations, but instead you get a wealth of 
background information for scribes and painters. This book should be a 
very useful guide to anyone in the SCA scribal arts.

Kind regards,


Mungo Napier, Unofficial Librarian of Isenfir
(mka Garth Groff, UVA Libraries cataloger)