Ars Historica is a new publishing house dedicated to old knowledge. The name means "historic arts" in Latin, and historic arts will be our focus. We are committed to bringing old arts, crafts, and knowledge to those who can use it best -- whether Renaissance Faire actors, SCA members, independent reenactors, or serious students of history.
We firmly believe that history can be fascinating and fun, and the best way to enjoy history is to live it. Kids in school get turned off to history when they're asked to memorize lists of kings and dates. First, let them learn to love and enjoy history; later, they'll want to learn the kings and the dates and all that other stuff.
To support this philosophy, our books will cover a wide spectrum of topics, including language, costuming, military arts, and more general history. They will be carefully researched, well-documented pieces of scholarship, but written with an eye toward keeping it readable and fun.
We begin our venture with the release of Wayne Anderson's The Bard's English , a guidebook for those who would learn the language as it was spoken between 1500 and 1650. This was the time of Queen Elizabeth and Shakespeare, and is also the time frame for most Renaissance Faires. Click here for more details on this book!
To further support this book and its readers, we've created a Yahoo Group specifically dedicated to the discussion and study of the history of the English language. It's called "AH_Language_History," and you can click on its name to go join the group. It's free -- you don't even have to read The Bard's English to join (but it would probably help). We'll have some spirited and informative discussions, and we're hoping to see you there!
You can also read Wayne Anderson's essay, with photos, on Swords for the Elizabethan Gentleman.
Call for Authors: If you are knowledgeable in some field of historic reenactment, any time from ancient Sumerian to the mid-20th century, and you've always felt that you ought to write a book about your knowledge, contact us! If you thought to yourself, "I know enough to write a book on that, but who would publish it?" talk to us. We're interested! We can help you polish a simple outline or manuscript into an intelligent, well-written and easily readable book -- and then we can publish it for you! Or if you want to share your knowledge, but don't want to write, talk to us anyway. You could wind up acting as a historical consultant contributing to another work. Click here for guidelines and a list of topics that we'd especially like to see.
Got an idea? If you said, "Somebody ought to write a book about that," let us know what "that" is. We won't pay for ideas, but you might at least see the book you wanted. Email us and tell us what you have in mind.
About our logo: The design incorporates four symbols: the quill, representing the written word; the hammer, representing metalcrafts, woodcrafts, and the like; the needle, representing textile arts and crafts; and the sword, representing military and martial arts. We hope to soon publish a wide variety of books covering all of these and more.
Be sure to visit our sister website, Margo Anderson's Historic Costume Patterns, for the best costume patterns ever offered to the public at any price!