England / France: The Earl of Shrewsbury presenting a book to Queen Margaret of Anjou, seated in a palace beside King Henry VI. From the Talbot Shrewsbury Book, Rouen, c.1444

The Talbot Shrewsbury Book (London, British Library Royal 15 E vi) is a very large richly-illuminated manuscript made in Rouen (Normandy) in 1444/5. It was presented by John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury (d. 1453) to the French princess, Margaret of Anjou (1430 - 1482), in honour of her betrothal to King Henry VI (r. 1422-1461).

It contains a unique collection of fifteen texts in French, including chansons de geste, chivalric romances, treatises on warfare and chivalry, and finally the Statues of the Order of the Garter. The work is an excellent example of book production in Rouen in the mid-fifteenth century and provides a rare insight into the political views of the English military leader and close confidant of the crown, John Talbot.

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Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

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