Q&A With Danièle Cybulskie

Another wonderful guest Mickey Mikkelson has connected me with is author Danièle Cybulskie. Danièle has written the books, Life In Medieval Europe, How To Live Like A Monk, The Five Minute Medievalist, & her current release Chivalry And Courtesy: Medieval Manners For A Modern World. 

Q: Danièle, what is it about the medieval era that you enjoy researching and writing about so much?

A: I like thinking about the ways people lived their ordinary lives in the Middle Ages. How did they solve everyday problems? What did they do for fun? What was important to them? I started looking into these answers for myself and found them so fascinating that I had to share them with the world. My work focuses on medieval history at this human level, looking at those seemingly small things that make up our personalities and our lives.

Q: Would you like to tell the readers of the blog and I about Chivalry And Courtesy: Medieval Manners For A Modern World? While I haven’t read the book yet, I do agree with the title that chivalry needs to make a comeback in today’s world.

A: Chivalry and Courtesy looks at those cultural rules that dictate our behavior in social situations. People are often interested in the formal manners of times that seem much more sophisticated, like in the Bridgerton series. What they may not know is that medieval manners were very similar. You had to be polite at the table, use napkins, don’t talk with your mouth full – that kind of thing. People don’t expect that when they hear the word “medieval”. Chivalry, itself, is not just about opening doors, but about living as an actual knight; a nobleman, but also a warrior. I wanted to look at what was expected of people in the Middle Ages both in terms of how to be polite, but also their roles in society. So, if you’re interested in basic medieval table manners, but also what was involved in running a household, being a parent, being a royal, or being romantic at that time, this is the book for you.

Q: Are you currently writing your next book now? Is it in the medieval era or in a new historical era entirely?

A: I’m at the very beginning stages of a new book, so I’m not able to say much about it except I’m going to stick with the Middle Ages. It’s my favourite historical time period, and given that it spans about a thousand years, there is a lot left to say.

Q: While I know this has nothing to do with your books, it has to do with your favorite era. Elizabeth Chadwick writes historical fiction which mainly takes place in the medieval era. Have you ever read any of her books? If you haven’t, I would give them a try. Her Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy is excellent! 

A: I’m afraid I haven’t, but Eleanor of Aquitaine was a truly amazing woman. I can definitely see why both an author and her readers would want to spend a lot of time with her.