Genealogy enthusiast and historical author Christy K Robinson’s family history searches have taken her into the great cathedrals and obscure country churches in which her own ancestors—and those of the millions of other people sharing their genes—and other notables were either interred or commemorated. Her latest book is a treasure trove of information about the burial styles of her numerous subjects, primarily royalty and aristocracy of Britain and Europe during the Dark Ages and Medieval times. Not only does she analyse specific monuments and their symbolic elements, she describes the effects of civil wars and religious disputes on the physical contents of churches and examines discrepancies between burial records and popular legend. A brief section on Crusaders and pilgrims covers important personages who did not survive their journeys to the Holy Land.
A valuable reference for historians and genealogists, Effigy Hunter is equally a travelogue and travel memoir. Through anecdote, illustrations, and photographs, Robinson shares her extensive travels through England and other countries. Region-by-region sections contain charts of essential information on the location and dates of effigies and memorials, making this a useful field guide for those wishing to visit sites in person. As entertaining as it is informative, Effigy Hunter is very highly recommended for genealogists, historians, novelists, and travellers.
Christy's websites:
Rooting for Ancestors
William & Mary Dyer
Christy's Amazon Author Page (purchase links for all books)
Christy K Robinson on Amazon
[I received a pre-publication copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.]