Join us at Hay Castle on Wednesday, July 2, for a talk by Amy Jeffs on her acclaimed book, Saints.
From the Sunday Times bestselling author of Storyland and Wild, comes a sweeping new legend of miracles, magic, human frailty, and heroic strength. Illustrated with over thirty original paper cutouts by the author, Saints retells legends born of the medieval cult of saints. Amy will share insights into her creative process and the inspiration behind her work. Her talk will explore the rich tapestry of saints' lives, blending historical research with artistic interpretation. Saints' legends suffused medieval European culture, shaping landscapes, rituals, and folk beliefs. Their tales spoke of men raised by wolves, women communing with flocks of birds, and severed heads calling from between bristling paws.
In Saints, Jeffs draws on 'official' lives, vernacular romances, artworks, and obscene poetry, spanning from the fourth to the sixteenth centuries. The legends' heroes originate from as far east as Turkey and North Africa and as far west as Britain and Ireland. The book includes enduring super saints like Brigid, George, Patrick, and Michael, as well as lesser-known figures such as Scoithín, Euphrosyne, and Ia. The commentaries following the stories offer a history of each saint and trace the rise and fall of the medieval cult of saints from the first martyrs to the Protestant Reformation.
The talk will begin at 7pm, followed by a Q&A session. Don't miss this chance to hear from Amy and gain a deeper understanding of the captivating world of saints.
Copies of Saints will be available for purchase and signing after the event.
