The Middle Ages you don't expect

In Italy, it's well known that people read very little. Whenever statistics on reading are compiled, the data are unfortunately quite discouraging. Even less is read about history in our country, a subject too often snubbed by most because it's considered boring, unengaging, and dusty. The typical question always arises: why be interested in a subject focused on past events that seem to have little or no connection to the present? Yet history matters, and matters even more for young people because we are all products of what happened in the past. "History is a guide to man's search," wrote a journalist like Enzo Biagi, a pioneer of historical fiction for children with his comic book Storia d'Italia, published almost half a century ago. Historical events, therefore, are not something foreign to our lives; rather, we are all immersed in a flow that we contribute in our own small way.

Of course, simply stating this kind of message isn't enough. We need to find a way for young people to embrace it. And this can only happen if we begin to present history differently, conveying the idea that history isn't just a long list of generals, battles, and dates, but is made up of people we can recognize and identify with.

It's not about denying notions, but about talking more about the daily lives of our ancestors, their ways of life, what they believed and thought, perhaps paying attention to material history, gender, and everyday life. We need to bring history closer to children so that they can approach it.

In short, this is what Manlio Castagna's entertaining and engaging book "The Middle Ages from A to Zazzera" (il Castoro, 2026, pp. 256) does. The volume, enriched by illustrations by Alice Guidi, is a true journey from A to Z through one of the most evocative and intriguing periods in history. "The Middle Ages from A to Zazzera" is the ideal companion for those who love the past, but also a gripping read for the more curious, ready to be swept away by the brilliant writing of Castagna, one of Italy's best-known children's authors. A book that reveals how the Middle Ages were not just about castles and battles, but also about enigmas, beliefs, and extraordinary adventures. For example, Castagna tells us the true story behind Assassin's Creed, or the mysteries of the Templars and the Werewolf Men. Or he explains how waste was managed in the Middle Ages, or how teeth were cared for. From the birth of soccer to the bloody role of barbers, to the most absurd professions ever invented, the book is a veritable collection of curiosities, based, however, on solid historical research. Some examples? Just read the "L" for "absurd jobs," given that in the Middle Ages, there was a proliferation of rat catchers (which is why the fable of the Pied Piper of Hamelin became famous), bear tamers, leech collectors (used by doctors to draw blood from the sick), and leprosy alerters who warned the population of the arrival of a leper. In short, The Middle Ages from A to Zazzera tells us about the Middle Ages as we've never read it before: engaging, ironic, surprising, and with that thrill of fear capable of keeping boys and girls glued to the pages.