Books

The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony is the most extraordinary work on mythology I've ever read. It reveals things you would never get from more traditional books like Bullfinch.

The most extraordinary revelation is that the entirety of Greek myth is in fact just that: one gigantic interlocking story. An amazing, readable work of scholarship. The weird thing is that Roberto Calasso's similar treatment of Indian mythology Ka is an impenetrable snoozer. Perhaps it was the translator's fault.

This book probably won't help much with quest logistics. But you'll enjoy the trip.

Once you've poured over Normans Elite and you want more detail, go get a copy of Norman Knight by Christopher Gravett. Though Angus McBride doesn't do the illustrations, Christa Hook's pictures are very very nice. They just lack McBride's storytelling aspect, which while amusing, doesn't aid the research you're getting the book for in the first place.

The bibliographies and citations in these books are excellent and can help you find the references you need to document your armor, clothing or accouterments. Before I planned a trip to Europe, I'd be certain to look through this and the Normans Elite books for lists of where the original statuary and other primary sources are found.

And if for some odd reason Norman history and armor isn't your cup of tea, the Osprey Men-at-Arms, Warrior and Elite Series' are great resources on every kind of military outfitting from Bronze Age Greece to Modern Iraq.

My first copy of this book is now probably older than some of the guys I'm training to fight. In here we've found the pictures that inspired my second helm, Susanna's first helm, my third (and current) helm and the "crow taco" crest I wear for big battles. My gaiters also take their inspiration from this book. I've given several copies away as gifts over the years.

If you're interested in Norman military history of the 12th and 13th centuries, there's no better introduction.

Lady Clare, member of the Order of the Golden Dolphin was until recently the Chancellor of the University of Atlantia. She loves books!

Clare lives in northern Virginia with Sir Colin and their two children, Zack and Marcus, and about 10,000 books.