Benjamin Hudson

The thirteenth-century manuscript The Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles is the earliest surviving piece of historical documentation from the Isle of Man and a uniquely important source describing the rise and fall of the medieval Kingdom of Man and the Isles between about 1016 and 1316. The text is the natural starting point for anyone interested in the history of the region, its Norse–Gaelic ruling dynasty and the kingdom’s relationship with other powers in the British Isles. This completely new translation of the Chronicles is accompanied by a historical commentary explaining the complex array of people, places and events that crowd the often-turbulent medieval history of this region. Newly translated extracts from other contemporary documents such as the Saga of King Hakon of Norway further contextualise the social, political and religious history of the kingdom and provide useful background for the Chronicles year-by-year account. This user-friendly translation, with its wealth of supporting commentary and documentation, will be a vital resource for scholars and students as well as a fascinating read for enthusiasts.

Macbeth is arguably the world's most famous monarch. Both the historical king and the literary character have fascinated writers and audiences for centuries, beginning with the poets who recited their verses at the medieval monarch's court. Macbeth's legend began almost immediately after his death as medieval and Renaissance writers gradually replaced the king with a semi-literary character developed and embroidered to suit their own political and cultural agenda. The process of transformation culminated in playwright William Shakespeare's The Tragedie of Macbeth. Investigating the man and the legend, Benjamin Hudson traces the eleventh-century prince's rise to prominence from local warlord to international ruler. Battling Vikings, English, and his fellow Scots, Macbeth was involved in a Dano-Norwegian conflict, made a pilgrimage to Rome, and gave refuge to Norman knights. He was more than a mere warlord. With his queen, Gruoch, the widow of a man who killed Macbeth's father, he was a benefactor of churches. The historical prince was an important innovator who used new fighting tactics, developed an international outlook to government, and encouraged intellectual pursuits. Hudson also tracks the ways in which popularizers developed the women behind the fictional Lady Macbeth and the weird sisters. Drawing on centuries of Celtic and Scandinavian sources, popular entertainment, political theory, folklore, and art, Macbeth before Shakespeare recovers the genuine king from the historical record and shows how he was replaced by the legendary monster of ambition.

The Picts is a survey of the historical and cultural developments in northern Britain between AD 300 and AD 900. Discarding the popular view of the Picts as savages, they are revealed to have been politically successful and culturally adaptive members of the medieval European world. Re-interprets our definition of ‘Pict’ and provides a vivid depiction of their political and military organizationOffers an up-to-date overview of Pictish life within the environment of northern BritainExplains how art such as the ‘symbol stones’ are historical records as well as evidence of creative inspiration. Draws on a range of transnational and comparative scholarship to place the Picts in their European context

The Picts is a survey of the historical and cultural developments in northern Britain between AD 300 and AD 900. Discarding the popular view of the Picts as savages, they are revealed to have been politically successful and culturally adaptive members of the medieval European world. Re-interprets our definition of ‘Pict’ and provides a vivid depiction of their political and military organizationOffers an up-to-date overview of Pictish life within the environment of northern BritainExplains how art such as the ‘symbol stones’ are historical records as well as evidence of creative inspiration. Draws on a range of transnational and comparative scholarship to place the Picts in their European context

Following the new format of the First FRCR Anatomy Examination and based on the syllabus of the Royal College of Radiology, this unique revision tool is more complete and detailed than any other guide on the market. The comprehensive, structured approach promotes a working understanding of anatomy by guiding the reader through over 200 practice images, explaining any normal variants or key anatomical concepts of particular interest. This section is followed by three practice exams, each comprising 20 question stems and images. This is an invaluable aid for all First FRCR Anatomy Examination candidates. It is also highly recommended for doctors studying for MRCS or MRCP examinations, emergency department doctors and radiographers.

This book studies two Viking families who appear in the records of the Atlantic littoral as pagan raiders and reinvent themselves as established Christian rulers. Their rise and transformation from the 10th to the 12th centuries highlights a period and people important for understanding the political, religious, and culture development of Europe in the High Middle Ages.