Playing the Middle Ages

Anna Pronina, journalist, writer, and collector of playing cards, conducted a real investigation to learn as much as possible about the history of games in the Middle Ages. What did people play within the walls of ancient castles? How did ordinary townspeople entertain themselves? How did gambling and games change the histories of states? Playing cards are given special attention, as not much information about them has survived to this day. The author investigates who invented them and when, why they are called devilish pictures, and what the card symbolism means. From the book, you will learn: why card suits appear in the frescoes of early Christian temples; how images from playing cards ended up in sacred books and back again; how children spent their leisure time in the Middle Ages; what amused adults the most in the Middle Ages; which games from the Middle Ages can still be played today; as well as: signs, divinations, superstitions – from the best psychics in the country. Interviews with medium Alexander Sheps, clairvoyant Nikol Kuznetsova, tarot reader Anton Mamon, clairvoyant Fatima Khadueva; grandmaster of tarot Elza Kahatnyukovskaya, artist Alexei Orleanskiy, gypsy Aza Petrenko, collector Eduard Schweigert, and others.