Andrew Jotischky is Professor of Medieval History at Lancaster University, UK. He has published widely on aspects of medieval religious history; his principal publications include Crusading and the Crusader States (2004), and The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Bible Lands, with Caroline Hull (2009)

• 1. Beginnings - who were the first monks?; 2. Desert fathers, pillarsaints and fasting; 3. The 'hermit craze' of the Middle Ages; 4. Gardens and growing; 5. The bigger picture - food, trade and money; 6.Herbs and health; Includes approximately 10 recipes; Further reading.

This is a sparkling book, hugely informative about monasticism in general and hermits in particular with the addition of some surprisingly appetising recipes. Mortification and nettles turn out to be only one part of the story of how hermits battled with the devil; hospitality and humility were equally important as was a good knowledge of bread-making and a sound digestion. Tree bark is probably not to everyone's taste.

Andrew Jotischky is Professor of Medieval History at Lancaster University, UK. He has published widely on aspects of medieval religious history; his principal publications include Crusading and the Crusader States (2004), and The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Bible Lands, with Caroline Hull (2009)

• 1. Beginnings - who were the first monks?; 2. Desert fathers, pillarsaints and fasting; 3. The 'hermit craze' of the Middle Ages; 4. Gardens and growing; 5. The bigger picture - food, trade and money; 6.Herbs and health; Includes approximately 10 recipes; Further reading.

This is a sparkling book, hugely informative about monasticism in general and hermits in particular with the addition of some surprisingly appetising recipes. Mortification and nettles turn out to be only one part of the story of how hermits battled with the devil; hospitality and humility were equally important as was a good knowledge of bread-making and a sound digestion. Tree bark is probably not to everyone's taste.

Andrew Jotischky is Professor of Medieval History at Lancaster University, UK. He has published widely on aspects of medieval religious history; his principal publications include Crusading and the Crusader States (2004), and The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Bible Lands, with Caroline Hull (2009)

• 1. Beginnings - who were the first monks?; 2. Desert fathers, pillarsaints and fasting; 3. The 'hermit craze' of the Middle Ages; 4. Gardens and growing; 5. The bigger picture - food, trade and money; 6.Herbs and health; Includes approximately 10 recipes; Further reading.

This is a sparkling book, hugely informative about monasticism in general and hermits in particular with the addition of some surprisingly appetising recipes. Mortification and nettles turn out to be only one part of the story of how hermits battled with the devil; hospitality and humility were equally important as was a good knowledge of bread-making and a sound digestion. Tree bark is probably not to everyone's taste.