The Knights Next Door: Everyday People Living Middle Ages Dreams
by Patrick O'Donnell
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Book Summary Information
Author: Patrick O'DonnellEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-10-20
ISBN: 0595325300
Number of pages: 311
Publisher: iUniverse, Inc.
Book Reviews of The Knights Next Door: Everyday People Living Middle Ages Dreams
Book Review: A realistic and positive view of the SCA
Summary: 5 Stars
For anyone who wants to know what the Society for Creative Anachronism is all about, this book is **really** worth reading.
It's a remarkably realistic, positive, yet still warts-and-all view of the SCA. Plus, it's written darn well.
It really drives home the fact that the SCA has grown steadily more history- and authenticity-oriented since its roots as a backyard costume party, but it **still** contains several fantasy elements... and likely *always* will.
The SCA is much more flexible and inclusive than most historical recreation groups, so you're always going to have the Tuchux and other groups playing within the Society that aren't strictly historical or fit within the SCA's designation as a pre-17th Century history reenactment organization.
Yes, the involvement of these fringe groups can make a number of us who are concerned about historical accuracy double-clutch at times and we strongly feel that it lessens our credibility with Academia... but I think those groups' involvement also stops us from taking things too seriously. I believe the sheer variety and diversity of folks and their interests is one of our greatest strengths -- we offer many things to many people.
Although the focus of the book is on the Middle Kingdom (midwest United States), the author does interview folks all over the nation. It has *tons* of wonderful interviews with folks from all periods of the group's development (Fleig, Diana Paxson, Ice Falcon, Cariadoc of the Bow, Roak, Alys Katherine...) Their stories made me laugh, gasp, and literally sometimes cry.
I also really appreciated the fact that the book gave me -- someone who has never donned a helm and fought with heavy weapons -- a better appreciation of how and why fighters do what they do.
I used to waterbear a lot when I first joined the Society and I basically looked at heavy weapons fighting as though it was just another type of martial arts competition, as though I was watching an aikido demonstration or a karate tournament.
This book helped me glimpse that there's a lot more to the mindset and the practice of heavy weapons fighting.
Summary of The Knights Next Door: Everyday People Living Middle Ages Dreams
Travel back in time to the Current Middle Ages, a re-created world of knights in shining armor, lords and ladies, artisans and minstrels with one foot in history, the other in today's modern society. Join a journey through the nation's largest medievalist group, the Society for Creative Anachronism, as it and other groups act out their passion for times long past. Meet the cast of colorful characters who call this re-created world home and follow a young fighter as he struggles to earn knighthood and the crown of the kingdom that serves as his stage.Memoirs Books
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