Saints, Shrines and Pilgrims by Roger Rosewell (Bloomsbury, £8.99). Saints were everywhere in medieval England. Their shrines determined pilgrimage routes, their festivals defined calendars and tales of their deeds permeated the culture. “Life,” as Rosewell puts it, “was unimaginable without them.” Rosewell crams an impressive amount into this handsomely illustrated book, from the processes of saint-making and the care lavished on shrines, to the chaos and destruction wrought by the Reformation. More detailed and analytical surveys are available, but this would be a useful volume to tuck into your glove compartment or backpack.