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Review
It is Monty Python and the Holy Grail with footnotes, and, my goodness it is fun.
--The Guardian
Social history is popular enough but I have read nothing quite like this. It is written in the manner of an extremely well-informed but chatty guidebook…This is not only an unusual book, but a thoroughly engaging one.
--Literary Review
To read this book is to be transported to 14th-century England, in the company of a knowledgeable and witty guide. Dr Mortimer's book is a complete social history of medieval England.
--BBC History Magazine
--The Guardian
Social history is popular enough but I have read nothing quite like this. It is written in the manner of an extremely well-informed but chatty guidebook…This is not only an unusual book, but a thoroughly engaging one.
--Literary Review
To read this book is to be transported to 14th-century England, in the company of a knowledgeable and witty guide. Dr Mortimer's book is a complete social history of medieval England.
--BBC History Magazine
Review
'It is Monty Python and the Holy Grail with footnotes, and, my goodness it is fun'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
346 of 350 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I think that I can safely speak for many of us in the historical community (both writers and readers) when I say that we are - in the nicest way of course - rather nosy. That is, we want to know all about people from different times: what they looked like; what they did; how they did it. For instance, have you ever wondered whether people in the fourteenth century wore nightdresses or what the well off used to wipe their behinds with (I have!)? How about their pastimes, sense of humour or the difficulties of travelling?
Ian Mortimer's latest book: The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England - A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century certainly satisfies that craving for knowledge of the minutiae of daily life in the Middle Ages. The book is lovingly researched and well written with a light sprinkling of humour that makes it very easy to read. The style in itself is very original for a non-fiction historical book, using a `guidebook' approach that is a million miles away from the stuffiness of many `academic' books. Yet, happily, the book does not suffer from a lack of sincerity or historical integrity in any way.
The topics cover a broad range of subjects for the `traveller' from what the landscape will look like to what to wear, where to stay when travelling, and how to address different kinds of people that you will meet along the way. And then, of course, when they invite you to eat with them, you will know what food to expect. And then, of course, there is always the danger of falling ill. The Time Traveller's Guide is once again at hand to tell you not only what may be wrong with you (hopefully not the plague, or leprosy!) and what medicine is available to help cure it.
This book, then, is a wonderful read. To be fair, I could not find fault either with the style or the information it offered (much to my frustration - as I always like to find at least a little criticism to balance things). To anyone who loves this period it will open up new doors to understanding the social history of the time. For writers of Medieval fiction, it is a valuable sourcebook - full of the little details that we need to make our stories come alive.
So yes, I heartily recommend this book as worth every penny
Ian Mortimer's latest book: The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England - A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century certainly satisfies that craving for knowledge of the minutiae of daily life in the Middle Ages. The book is lovingly researched and well written with a light sprinkling of humour that makes it very easy to read. The style in itself is very original for a non-fiction historical book, using a `guidebook' approach that is a million miles away from the stuffiness of many `academic' books. Yet, happily, the book does not suffer from a lack of sincerity or historical integrity in any way.
The topics cover a broad range of subjects for the `traveller' from what the landscape will look like to what to wear, where to stay when travelling, and how to address different kinds of people that you will meet along the way. And then, of course, when they invite you to eat with them, you will know what food to expect. And then, of course, there is always the danger of falling ill. The Time Traveller's Guide is once again at hand to tell you not only what may be wrong with you (hopefully not the plague, or leprosy!) and what medicine is available to help cure it.
This book, then, is a wonderful read. To be fair, I could not find fault either with the style or the information it offered (much to my frustration - as I always like to find at least a little criticism to balance things). To anyone who loves this period it will open up new doors to understanding the social history of the time. For writers of Medieval fiction, it is a valuable sourcebook - full of the little details that we need to make our stories come alive.
So yes, I heartily recommend this book as worth every penny
110 of 112 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having read 'The Perfect King' and become interested in the 14th Century (previously my passion was the Tudor Age)I decided to expand my knowledge of the period by picking out this book purely by chance. It is absolutely rivetting and I completed it in just 2 days. There are so many books on the period, most as dry as dust, but the world comes alive through Mortimer's pen. I do not feel it was 'dumbing down' in any way by writing this as a 'guide book' - quite the contrary. The world truly came alive from page one, and my attention was hooked. Mortimer reaches across the centuries into the hearts and minds of people not so very different from ourselves. We learn about their working lives and their leisure. We find out what they eat and what they wear. We can almost feel the horror of parents as they can only stand and watch their whole families being wiped out by plague. The greatest writers of the period are mentioned, not just Chaucer but other authors such as the Gawain poet, writing such poignant verses with emotions that feel just as relevant today. Not only is it a rivetting read, it is truly a handbook to be read in conjuction with other history books of the period. The past is not something long-dead and buried, but has a life all its own and is why we are who we are. A very easy, fascinating read.
118 of 122 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
At school I hated history mainly because it was learning boring dates and events.
This book changes all of that; it tells me what I wanted to know in an easy to read and extremely enjoyable way.
What will I see in a 14th Century street, who will I see, what des it smell like, what will I eat, how do I address people I meet? All of this and more is covered in this excellent book. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of the period such as the city, the town, the village etc. Very clear and very informative; ideal for casual interest, school pupils, university history reading and so on.
I won't go into the details because that would simply spoil things for you so I suggest you get this book and be transported back some 700 years.
It simply brings history to life.
This book changes all of that; it tells me what I wanted to know in an easy to read and extremely enjoyable way.
What will I see in a 14th Century street, who will I see, what des it smell like, what will I eat, how do I address people I meet? All of this and more is covered in this excellent book. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of the period such as the city, the town, the village etc. Very clear and very informative; ideal for casual interest, school pupils, university history reading and so on.
I won't go into the details because that would simply spoil things for you so I suggest you get this book and be transported back some 700 years.
It simply brings history to life.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England
Any adults who enjoy the 'Horrible Histories' TV programmes aimed at children are sure to enjoy this brilliant book. Read more
Published 1 day ago by chris.z
Brilliant
From the minute I picked this book up in the shop I knew I had to have it and It didn't disappoint in it's fascinating insight into all aspects of medieval life. Read more
Published 24 days ago by Dentmender
Being there.
This is a really different way to write a history book. You are there in the present , wandering through England and the streets of London, observing what is happening, what the... Read more
Published 25 days ago by riverside
Time Traveller's Guide - Medieval England
A wonderfully readable introduction to 13-14th C life. I thought I knew a lot about this period but Ian Mortimer's approach opened my eyes to the sheer awfulness of being a peasant... Read more
Published 25 days ago by Connie G
A Time traveller's Guide
Half way through, lots of little interesting facts that make the bigger picture of widely known historical events even more interesting. Read more
Published 28 days ago by kerry
History brought alive
History can be very dry. This book deals with many everyday topics in detail so that you can feel as though you are actually living at that time and place.
Published 1 month ago by Byronic
Time Traveller's Guide
Thoroughly enjoyable read which kept me rivetted throughout. Love history anyway but it's the little odd things and social aspect which the author covered so well that stick in... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ryer
Time travellers guide....
The first half of the book was very good. The authors descriptions of medieval England were enough to transport you to the foetid alleyways of London and Exeter. Read more
Published 1 month ago by nutter2b
A Medieval Master
What better way to understand modern-day customs, attire, architecture and habits, than to be transported back to the 14th Century? Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jackie White, author of 'The Little Black Rammbook'
A marvelous history of Medieval England
I read this fascinating book in two days and during that time lived in a dream of medievall England. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Patricia Ellis
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