Snails are usually slow, harmless visitors to our gardens—so why do they appear in medieval manuscripts as fearsome foes, dueling knights in shining armor? The answer is as curious (and charming) as the creatures themselves. Read on to discover why scribes couldn’t resist this unlikely battle…

The Art of CalligraphyRita Polidori O’BrienAugust 18, 2025Scribe New Yorkmarginalia, snails, knights, Illuminated Manuscripts, in the margins, manuscriptsComment

Medieval Women Speak: A Calligrapher’s Visit to the British Library

Books, letters and manuscripts preserved from the Middle Ages allow a rare glimpse into the lives of the women who wrote them. The exhibition on display this past winter at the British Library presents first person accounts of daily life, relationships, spirituality, and more.

Featured, The Art of CalligraphyRita Polidori O’BrienMarch 8, 2025Scribe New YorkMedieval Women, Christine de Pizan, Margery Kempe, British Library, Illuminated Manuscripts, Medieval HistoryComment