Masters of the Guild

"Masters of the Guild" by Louise Lamprey takes place in the Middle Ages and focuses on the lives of people practicing crafts, especially the troubadour Ranulph and Peirol, a young pigeon lover. The story begins at Count Thibaut’s castle, where everyone is celebrating, and explores the significance of art and relationships against the spectacle. After Count Thibaut returns from England with Lady Philippa, the troubadour Ranulph composes songs in the garden, and meets Peirol who is training pigeons. Tension starts when Sir Gualtier Giffard arrives, carrying a history of lost wealth, which adds deeper meanings of ambition and disagreement, foreshadowing the complexities of love and faithfulness ahead.