Hanged Man, The
Book Description
Seven centuries ago on a Welsh hillside, a condemned rebel named William Cragh faced the gallows and apparent death, only to return to life in what witnesses proclaimed a divine miracle. Robert Bartlett reconstructs this extraordinary medieval mystery through nine eyewitness testimonies preserved in long-forgotten canonization records, offering modern readers a profound exploration of faith, mortality, and the unexplained.
This remarkable historical investigation reveals how ordinary people in medieval Wales understood the boundary between life and death, and how they interpreted events that defied natural explanation. Through meticulous examination of court transcripts and testimonies, Bartlett brings to life the voices of castle ladies, laborers, bishops, and papal investigators who witnessed or examined this puzzling resurrection attributed to the intercession of Bishop Thomas de Cantilupe.
The narrative unfolds like a spiritual detective story, weaving together themes of divine intervention, human testimony, and the search for truth across centuries. As Bartlett reconstructs the social and religious world surrounding this event, readers encounter timeless questions about the nature of miracles, the power of belief, and how communities make sense of the inexplicable.
For those drawn to stories where the spiritual and historical intersect, this book offers a unique window into how medieval society grappled with extraordinary claims and sought to understand divine presence in human affairs.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~5 hours)
📄 Length: 168 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Cross-examination
- ✓ Explore History
- ✓ Explore Wales, history
- ✓ Explore Pendaison
- ✓ Explore Aspect religieux
- ✓ Explore History of doctrines
- ✓ Explore Audition des témoins
- ✓ Explore Cas, Études de
