[MR] Book: Bestiaires du Moyen Age

[Garth Groff]

Noble friends,

Just received in the UVA Fine Arts Library: BESTIAIRES DU MOYEN AGE by 
Michel Pastoureau (ISBN 9782021022865; our call # QL15 .P374 2011). This 
is a marvelous book, some 235 pages of medieval illuminations depicting 
beasties of all sorts, with critical text explaining their historical 
context, even giving the dates of the illustrations. All sorts of 
creatures are shown--domestic, wild, birds, fishes, plus mythical 
creatures such as unicorns and dragons, all in vivid color. Some 
illuminations show humans in period garb, also in color. The massive 
volume is 35 cm. tall, allowing enlargement of the images to a size that 
allows close study of the details. So here's the problem: the text is in 
French. (Sigh) So even if you don't read French, the illustrations are 
worth viewing. This is a book that should have great appeal to all 
Scadians, but would be especially useful to scribes, heralds, and needle 
workers.

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot