Arguably the greatest biomedical disaster in history, the Black Death of the 14th century wiped out 40 per cent of Europe's population, rocking the foundations of medieval civilisation. The author penetrates a haze of myths to offer the reader a social history, not just of collapse but of rebirth.

Describes Alexander's relations with his parents, his Oedipal complex and his bisexuality. This book shows Alexander's attempts to bridge the East and West, the Greek and Persian worlds, especially using Achilles, the hero of the Trojan War, as his model. It explores Alexander's view of himself in relation to the pagan gods of Greece and Egypt.

An authoritative, entertaining, and fully illustrated guide to the Middle Ages.

This work focuses on the lives and works of 20 of the great medievalists of this century, demonstrating how the events of their lives, and their emotional and spiritual outlooks influenced their interpretations of the Middle Ages.