Radt, Timm Men in Blech

Mittelalterliche Rüstungen und Schutzbekleidung

In the richly illustrated book *Men in Blech*, castle researcher Timm Radt provides an overview of the history of knightly armor and protective gear from the High and Late Middle Ages through the Early Modern period (11501650)presented in a vivid yet scholarly manner, free of clichés and romanticized notions. The book features profiles of approximately 25 real-life knightsnot kings or celebrities, but "ordinary" knights for whom a surviving likeness exists, typically in the form of a tomb slab (often of astonishing realism). Timm Radts illustrations depict the armorincluding its design and ornamentationin meticulous detail, bringing these historical figures to life. Thanks to the chronological arrangement of the individual portraits, readers can clearly trace the evolution of body armor (or "knightly panoply") over time. A glossary and a map indicating the origins and spheres of activity of all the featured individuals provide readers with quick and easy reference tools. *Men in Blech* reveals the origins of our modern imagery of knights while simultaneouslythrough its contemporary illustrationsengaging the reader's own imagination and fantasy. A must-read for anyone interested in the Middle Ages, castles, and knights.