Relief Pronunciation: [ri-leef] Function: noun Etymology: Middle English relef, relief, from Anglo-French from relever to relieve 1) The fee paid by the heir of a deceased person on securing possession of a fief. Tradition determines the amount demanded. 2) A fine paid by the heir of a vassal to the… Read More »Medieval Term of the Day: Relief
Bernard Cornwell’s new historical fiction novel Azincourt is expected to be released this October (2008) in the UK. The US version will not come out until January of 2009 most likely. The novel will be a stand-alone, not a series, and will obviously cover the events surrounding the famous Battle of… Read More »Azincourt by Bernard Cornwell
I almost exclusively stick to medieval history when posting on my site, but I’m curious about the new movie 10,000 B.C. The story follows the life of young hunter whose love interest is taken captive, and then he sets out with a small group to pursue the captors and save… Read More »10,000 B.C – The Movie
Retinue Pronunciation: [ret-n-oo, -yoo] Function: noun Etymology: Middle English retenue, from Anglo-French, from feminine of retenu, past participle of retenir to retain a) small troop of fighting men of all types raised on the estate of a knight b) body of persons “retained” in the service of a noble or royal personage
I’m currently reading A World Without End by Ken Follett, and his historical fiction novel is filled with medieval church architectural terms that I’m not readily familiar with, such as a clerestory or apse or chancel. I read Pillars of the Earth years ago, and some of the terms I… Read More »Glossary of Medieval Church Architecture
Amazon.com is the hands-down leader in the online bookselling marketplace. And—although it’s notoriously difficult to speak with a living, breathing human being—Amazon prides itself on meeting its customers’ needs. What’s the easiest way to drive sales for your book on Amazon? Easy: maximize the content on your product page and… Read More »Optimize Your Amazon Page to Drive Sales for Your Novel
William II, also called “Rufus,” was the second son of William I (“The Conqueror”) and was king of England from 1087 – 1100. William Rufus, in advance of the news of the death of his father, hurried from Normandy to Winchester, and with the support of Archbishop Lanfranc, gained the… Read More »William II (Rufus), King of England
Investiture Pronunciation: [in-ves-ti-cher, -choor] Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin investitura, from investitus, past participle of investire The act of formally putting someone into an office or landholding; it was a major occasion of dispute in the eleventh and twelfth centuries when reformers opposed lay rulers who invested clergy… Read More »Medieval Term of the Day: Investiture
Noah Lukeman is the President of Lukeman Literary Management Ltd., founded in 1996, and he is the author of the bestselling books The First Five Pages: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile and The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life. He has valuable insight… Read More »Interview with Noah Lukeman, Literary Agent