JM: (Some) Fascinating historical figure(s) from the high/late middle ages (1200-1500).

[selenak]

You know, this time span is really, really crowded with fascinating people, at the tail ends especially. When mentally composing the post, I went “but what about *insert v.v. interesting person* all the time. Ruthlessly cutting off anyone who lived a life long enough to have a few decades in the 15th and a few in the 16th century helped only a

Comments

[m_nivalis]

Thanks for doing my suggested topic!

A good choice of very interesting people. I know them by name, but not known all the details of their lives that you included here. It makes me wish I read more biographies, but that comes of course with modern bias, and the question of which biography to choose. Reading all the books is of course tempting, but I don't see how to work in a full-time job as well (not to mention such luxuries as sleep and *gasp* other hobbies) :-) .

[selenak]

i hear you. And even the most interesting person can find a bad biographer (either in the sense of "bad prose writer" or "does sloppy research"), which can lead to disappointment and discouragment of further reading. But that's where reviews and rec lists come in handily. :) (If not a guarantee, of course. One person's "must read" rec can be another person's "hang on, that's hopelessly slanted towards interpretation X and completely leaves out fact and perspective Y, and what is claim Z on based anyway? Author never says and doesn't provide footnotes!" Still, reviews are useful.)

[tebasile7]

Fascinating list. And after not knowing the (also fascinating) people from the earlier list, I am not as clueless this time around ;-).
Especially Hildegard von Bingen as I am using a quote of hers as part of the introduction to why nutrition and medicine cannot really be seperated when schooling therapists. I also went to Rupertsberg in an excursion with the faculty for animal nutrition back when I was at University and still wanted to become a “normal“ veterinarian. I also saw Vision in the cinema and it really is a great movie.

[selenak]

I just wish it was better known, hence the shameless advertising. :)