The Grand Medieval Bestiary: Animals in Illuminated Manuscripts

The animal kingdom as the Middle Ages saw it, illustrated with pictures from every period and style, many never before published. The prevalence of animals in illuminated manuscripts reflects their importance in medieval thought, an importance due in part to the agricultural society of that age, in which a variety of species, and not just docile pets, were the daily companions of humans. The book is arranged in the manner of a proper bestiary, with essays on one hundred animals alphabetized by their Latin names from Alauda (lark) to Vultur (vulture). For those who prefer mythical creatures, the book includes Basilisk, Centaur, Dragon, Griffin, Unicorn, and Phoenix.