
And thanks to Sourcebooks we also have a copy of A PLACE BEYOND COURAGE up for grabs, so be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of this post.
Welcome, Elizabeth and thank you for stopping by!
Clothing the Bones – the apparel of the well -dressed 12th century man
Many thanks for inviting me onto the blog.
I thought it might be interesting to talk about the clothes that JohnF itzGilbert, the hero of A Place Beyond Courage would have worn in his everyday life.
He was a member of the minor aristocracy and a court official, and could afford to be well if not spectacularly dressed. Clothes in the 12th century were worn to make a statement about rank. Only the nobility had the funds to buy costly vibrant dyes and finely woven yards of fabric. Only royalty or the greatest magnates and bishops could afford silk ,ermine and rich embroidery. For example, the purple dye manufactured in the middle eastern city of Tyre from sea snail shells, cost ounce per ounce more than gold.
Back to John FitzGilbert. I want you to imagine a tall, well proportioned, strikingly handsome man, his brown-blond hair flashed with paler streaks where it has been brightened by the summer sun. He has intense blue eyes and a long stare that challenges both men and women, although in rather different ways and for different reasons! It might be risqué for me to ask you to imagine him without his clothes, but my excuse is that we are starting at the beginning and he is our model.
John’s outdoor shoes would be made of strong cowhide, although perhaps he might wear some decoration on them such as a strip of woven silk or embroidery like this example.
As with the other garments, the fabric would be dyed in strong colours and the cloth would be fine. Some really fashion conscious men in the 12 century, went for floor length tunics so richly embellished and embroidered that they roused the disapproval of the church, who accused men of dressing like women!
Over the tunic would go a circular woollen cloak, pinned high up on the shoulder by a round brooch of precious metal, perhaps studded with jewels, again as a mark of status. Everyone pinned their cloaks with brooches, the poor making do with plain ones of copper alloy that often turn up in metal detector finds today.
The tunic would be belted, and the belt buckle would be of a form of brass, or perhaps bone such as this example here. John may also have worn a hat, but the exact form this would have taken is uncertain, but perhaps of rolled felt or even a beanie shape. He would also have rings on his fingers, set with a precious stone such as a sapphire or Ruby. These were imported from Sri Lanka, in the medieval times known as the land of Sarandib.
If John was going riding he would put on his spurs, and if he was going to war his kit would reflect that in his mail shirt and quilted under tunic (known as a gambeson). However, the clothes I have given him today, will see him about his business round the court or at the Exchequer, and everyone will know him as a man of standing a wielder of power, a man who means business, who knows his business, and has a healthy sense of his own worth within the bounds of his station. A man whom other men will watch with deference and caution…and women, with a completely different look in their eyes!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Publication Date: September 1, 2012
Sourcebooks
512p
SYNOPSIS
The early twelfth century is a time for ambitious men to prosper. John FitzGilbert is a man of honor and loyalty, sworn to royal service. When the old king dies, his successor rewards the handsome and ambitious John with castles and lands. But King Stephen has a tenuous hold on both his reign and his barons, and when jealous rivals at court seek to destroy John, he backs a woman's claim to the crown, sacrifices his marriage, and eventually is forced to make a gamble that is perhaps one step too far.
Rich with detail, masterful in its storytelling, A Place Beyond Courage is a tale of impossible gambles and the real meaning of honor.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elizabeth Chadwick (UK) is the author of 17 historical novels, including The Greatest Knight, The Scarlet Lion, A Place Beyond Courage, Lords of the White Castle, Shadows and Strongholds, the Winter Mantle, and The Falcons of Montabard, four of which have been shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Awards.
For more information, visit www.elizabethchadwick.com.
GIVEAWAY (US & CAN)
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Giveaway ends on September 21st.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

Very interesting and informative post! I would love to win a copy of this book. RoseLZ18@yahoo(dot)com
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Hello Amy and Elizabeth...quite interesting post and the book looks great!! I follow and shared...thank you...
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I first read the Greatest Knight and fell in love with the story then began reading all the rest in the series. I would LOVE to win ths book ! Lynda716@hotmail.com
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I would love to have the book to add to my collection as I reviewed a poofing netgalley edition.
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Thanks Amy!
Another amazing give away!!
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Thanks again!
Donna
Elizabeth Chadwick is one of my favorite authors and I would love to win a copy of A Place Beyond Courage.
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Susan
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I'd love to be entered for this!!
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I am so looking forward to Elizabeth Chadwicks's new book.
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Susan L
I enjoyed this post. I'm a lover of all things medieval. I love Elizabeth Chadwick's work and am so looking forward to reading this one! Thank you for the chance in the giveaway and for hosting her here.
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leahweller(at)bellsouth(dot)net
What an informative blog! In our novels, we read so much about what women wore in the past but men's wear is always brushed over somewhat. I guess men were as vain about their clothes as women were. I was really surprised to read that the purple dye was as "dear" as gold!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway, Elizabeth. You are an amazing author!
Connie Fischer
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I'd love to read any of Chadwick's novels. Thanks for the chance to win. I'm a follower.
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I would love to read this book!
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Great post with lots of cool info. Elizabeth Chadwick is obviously someone who knows her stuff. Thanks for the giveaway. I'd love to win this. carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx
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Thanks again, it looks great!
Thank you for the chance to win
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I want to find out what his gamble is.
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lag110 at mchsi dot com
I haven't read much fiction set in the 12th century but will certainly give this book a try! Interesting guest post about the clothing!
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would love to win this book!
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I follow your blog and follow you on facebook, and I will share this on facebook! :)
I haven't read any books by Elizabeth Chadwick yet, although I have one or two of her books on my kindle. I have heard her books are wonderful, though, so would love to read this one.
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Thanks Amy!
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I would love to read this series. Please enter me in contest. I am a follower and email subscriber. Tore923@aol.com
ReplyDeleteLoved this post! Thanks for the giveaway!
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The 'undergarment' looks very uncomfortable. My goodness in summer they must have been roasting, not to mention malodorous.
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Thanks for the chance to win! I've never really pain attention to men's fashion, so it was very interesting :)
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Thanks!
Thank you for the giveaway! Any book by Elizabeth Chadwick is sure to be great!
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Terrific post! That's quite a lot of layering!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win this book.
I just added PTTP to Google Reader and joined the FB page. I was already following you on Twitter. And I tweeted! So +12
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I appreciate the garment lesson! Very interesting. Sharing on Facebook! If I can remember my twitter login I'll follow there.
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I find historical attire so interesting. They weren't just about fashion but about usefulness too. Complex and something I'm curious to learn more about.
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Please enter me in the giveaway!
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So want to read this!!!
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Margaret
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Hi Ms. Chadwick and thank you for your post and giveaway. Posts like these (along with pictures!) really bring history alive, and I'm definitely interested in another book about the Marshal clan. I'm a great admirer of William, the man who should've been king! I'm a follower of the PTTP blog, the Facebook page (and I've shared as well), and on Twitter. Thanks again!
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I would love to win a copy, and I'm a follower.
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Great post. Most clothing posts are about ladies clothing so this was very interesting. I shared it too.
ReplyDeleteOne of my reading goals this years is to read one of Chadwick's books xD
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thank you
An excellent post! As others mentioned, it's usually women's clothing that gets the in-depth treatment, and we certainly can't go wrong with John FitzGilbert as a model. ;) Thank you, Ms. Chadwick!
ReplyDeleteI already own this book (and loved it), so no need to enter me in the giveaway. Good luck to everyone!
thanks for the chance to read this fabulous novel :)
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I'd love to win this book! Thanks for the chance.
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