Guest Newsletter: Five Books - Medieval Europe and Shakespeare

The Best Books on Medieval Europe

Europe experienced huge cultural, social and religious change throughout the Middle Ages. You may know it as an age of kings and queens, castles, crusades and chivalric knighthoods, but historians of the period often neglect the seismic events of the far north and east, explains Thomas Williams. Here, he recommends five books that may upend your understanding of medieval Europe. Read more

The Best Shakespeare Comedies

For Shakespeare, comedy was not simply about laughter, but about conflict and confusion giving way to resolution and a happy ending — at least by the standards of the Elizabethan era. The dilemmas these plays explore are still strikingly relevant, argues Heather Hirschfeld. She explores five Shakespearean comedies that speak to us today — on everything from power to identity to shared humanity, all mixed in with witty banter and plenty of room for clowns. Read more