Power, Passion and Politics in Anglo-Saxon England

The Private Lives of the Saints

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of Femina 
'Ramirez blasts a powerful spotlight into the so-called Dark Ages' - Dan Snow 
 
Skulduggery, power struggles and politics, The Private Lives of the Saints offers an original and fascinating re-examination of life in Anglo-Saxon England. Taking them down from the clouds of their heavenly status, Sunday Times bestselling author and renowned Oxford historian Dr Janina Ramirez explores the real lives of the legendary, seminal saints. 
 
This landmark book provides a unique and captivating new lens through which to explore the rich history of the Dark Ages.

What a wonderful book this is. Like the interlace stonework on an Anglo-Saxon cross, Janina Ramirez's themes are interwoven with a consummate skill.

Ramirez blasts a powerful spotlight into the so-called Dark Ages and reveals a vibrant world, awash with colour and character.

Those who were recast as saints achieved a superhuman status, their real lives often obscured by hagiographies rich with legends of miracle-working from beyond the grave. Janina Ramirez's book portrays them historically – as living, breathing personalities within the world they knew, the places we have inherited. Her enthusiasm and instinct for relevance should welcome a broad new audience to medieval Church history.

Dr Janina Ramirez is a Sunday Times bestselling author, an Oxford lecturer, BBC broadcaster and researcher. She has presented and written over 30 hours of BBC history documentaries and series on TV and radio, and written seven books for children and adults.

A Ladybird Expert Book

Beowulf

Part of the ALL-NEW LADYBIRD EXPERT SERIES 
 
- Which is more terrifying - a monster or its mother? 
- Why did Berserkers run naked into battle? 
- How was the story of Beowulf almost lost forever? 
 
PLUNGE into the adventures of Beowulf, the 6th Century hero who defeated the monster Grendel, became king of his people, and slayed a tremendous dragon. Surviving in a single, burnt manuscript, Beowulf continues to entrance readers and inspire major works of fantasy today. 
 
WARRIORS. MONSTERS. DRAGONS. GOLD. 
 
Janina Ramirez's Beowulf is an accessible and authoritative guide to the spellbinding world and daring feats of a poem remembered through the centuries.

Part of the ALL-NEW LADYBIRD EXPERT SERIES 
 
'This accessible illustrated guide is a great introduction to the story, its origins and its enduring legacy' BBC HISTORY 
 
- Which is more terrifying - a monster or its mother? 
- Why did Berserkers run naked into battle? 
- How was the story of Beowulf almost lost forever? 
 
PLUNGE into the adventures of Beowulf, the 6th Century hero who defeated the monster Grendel, became king of his people, and slayed a tremendous dragon. Surviving in a single, burnt manuscript, Beowulf continues to entrance readers and inspire major works of fantasy today. 
 
WARRIORS. MONSTERS. DRAGONS. GOLD. 
 
Janina Ramirez's Beowulf is an accessible and authoritative guide to the spellbinding world and daring feats of a poem remembered through the centuries.

This accessible illustrated guide is a great introduction to the story, its origins and its enduring legacy

The artwork is gloriously retro, echoing the original Ladybird house style but containing completely up to date information.

Dr Janina Ramirez is a presenter, lecturer and researcher, specialising in interpreting symbols and examining art works within their historical context. She is Course Director for the Undergraduate Certificate and Diploma in History of Art at the Department for Continuing Education, Oxford University. She has published widely on medieval art and literature, and has taught and researched across a broad chronological sweep, covering everything from the sculptures of antiquity to post-modern architecture. She has also written and presented a number of documentaries for BBC4 and Radio Four, and is a regular guest presenter of Front Row. She is a passionate and enthused academic driven by a desire to share ideas.

Janina Ramirez

The instant Sunday Times bestseller – A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Written Out of It

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 
LONGLISTED FOR THE CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZE 
 
'Revelatory' GUARDIAN 
 
'A firecracker somehow captured between two covers' LUCY WORSLEY 
 
An instant bestseller and one of the most celebrated history books of the year, Femina reveals the power and influence of medieval women who have been written out of our history. From royalty and religion to fame and fury, see the medieval world - and the women erased from it - with fresh eyes. 
 
'Absolutely brilliant and highly recommended' CAITLIN MORAN 
 
'Femina is a ground-breaking history of the Middle Ages' SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORE

Janina Ramirez

Femina

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