Sharan Newman is a highly respected American author and medieval historian, best known for her historical novels, particularly the Catherine LeVendeur series. Newman was born on April 15, 1949, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She pursued her academic interests in medieval literature and history, earning a master's degree from Michigan State University and completing doctoral work in Medieval Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her expertise lies in the history of 12th-century France. Currently, she is an active member of the Medieval Association of Pacific and the Medieval Academy.
Instead of teaching, Newman chose to utilize her extensive knowledge of the Middle Ages to write engaging and educational novels. Over the years, she has penned three Arthurian fantasies and around ten mysteries set in 12th-century France. The protagonist of her mystery series is Catherine LeVendeur, a one-time student of Heloise at the Paraclete. Catherine's husband, Edgar, is an Anglo-Scot and Solomon, a Jewish merchant of Paris. The series delves into the lives of the minor nobility and bourgeoisie, highlighting the complex and often tense relationships between Christians and Jews during that time. Some books in the series incorporate significant events from the 12th century, such as the Cathers's rise and the Second Crusade.
Newman has conducted extensive research for her novels, visiting the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique France Méridionale et Espagne at the University of Toulouse, the Institute for Jewish History at the University of Trier, as well as many departmental archives. Her meticulous attention to historical detail has earned her numerous accolades, including the Macavity Award for Best First Novel in 1994 for "Death Comes as Epiphany" and the Herodotus Award for best historical mystery of 1998 for "Cursed in the Blood." Her most recent Catherine LeVendeur mystery, "The Witch in the Well," won the Bruce Alexander award for best Historical mystery of 2004.
In addition to her successful mystery series, Newman has written non-fiction books, such as "The Real History Behind the Da Vinci Code" and "The Real History Behind the Templars," providing valuable historical context for popular fiction and events. Newman's dedication to research and storytelling has made her a respected figure in both historical fiction and medieval scholarship.