|
|
BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
From Medieval Book Reviews
|
|
The Time Traveler's Guide To Medieval
England:
A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century
by Ian Mortimer
A Must Read for medieval enthusiasts of all
fashions and at all levels!
In THE TIME TRAVELER'S
GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND, Ian Mortimer takes readers on a voyage to
fourteenth-century England. Exploring the time period as if it
were a foreign country rather than dry facts in a dusty textbook, Ian
Mortimer imagines the past as virtual history, a history that is
happening. Ian Mortimer extends the approach of architectural
historians who recreate images of buildings as they were during the
period to cover more topics, especially those topics that a visitor
would need to know, much like tourist guides for visiting foreign
cultures. Ian Mortimer's approach looks not only at the evidence
but also the humanity of people living during the time. Ian
Mortimer combines "what if" scenarios in which outcomes are not
necessarily guaranteed with an awareness of our perspectives and life
today in order to pinpoint those areas of medieval life that clearly
differ from our own routines, values, and expectations. As
visitors to a fourteenth century present before us, we ask different
questions than would someone viewing the period from a safe,
comfortable distance. Consequently, the questions we ask and the
answers we discover have a vitality sometimes lacking in traditional
history.
THE TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND
examines topics a time traveler from our century would want and need to
know for a successful visit to fourteenth century England.
Chapters include the following topics: the landscape, the people (with
a look at the roles of fighters, workers, the religious and more), the
medieval character, basic essentials, what to wear, traveling, where to
stay, what to eat and drink, health and hygiene, the law, and what to
do. Ian Mortimer gives a perspective to the landscape that allows
a reader to visualize the world before them. The chapter on
medieval character delves into such sub-topics as violence and cruelty,
the sense of humor and a warrior's love of flowers, education and
more. Basic essentials covers topics any time traveler (or
scholar) would need to know such as languages, dates, measuring time,
units of measurement, manners and politeness, shopping, money, and
more. Each chapter takes a reader deeper and deeper into the
culture of the time, building upon the other so that by the end of the
book, a reader feels one has visited the time and culture. Each
chapter presents a new look at topics, even for those well-versed in
the literature or history of the period. Chapters on health and hygiene
and the law bring a particularly powerful vision and insight into the
period. No matter how much one has studied the plague, Ian Mortimer's
presentation of it and other diseases makes a reader feel the
devastation from the perspective of people living through the event
much more than facts and figures. Ian Mortimer
focuses on the cultural differences between our time and that of
fourteenth century England. Mortimer's examination of medieval
England disperses modern stereotypes of "the Dark Ages" as a time of
ignorance and lack of civilization. Particularly compelling are
his discussions of cleanliness within the social and religious context
as well as his discussion of knowledge. Science and medicine
differ from today's perspective not through ignorance or a lack of
study but because the two incorporate other areas of study that modern
times discounts. Sixteen pages of rich illustrations, mostly from
medieval manuscrips accompany the text, adding to the visual image
built up by the author's words.
THE TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND is
an excellent choice for neophytes and medieval scholars alike.
For readers wanting to explore Medieval England, the travel guide
format brings the period alive in memorable, vivid imagery with
relevant historical details. Readers who love historical fiction
who tend to avoid history due to its dryness will particularly
appreciate the humanity and sense of vibrancy Ian Mortimer brings to
history. THE TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL
ENGLAND is highly recommended to medieval enthusiasts and lovers of
medieval literature. THE TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO
MEDIEVAL ENGLAND would make an important resource for both
undergraduate and graduate medieval literary students, helping readers
to visualize the time period and its literature in new and exciting
ways. This reader would have most appreciated this book as a
background resource during my graduate medieval studies, above all for
visualizing the background behind the literature. THE
TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND is a
fine example of the use of imagination to ask relevant questions of
history for literature lovers. Even though those
familiar with the period may already know the material, at least in
part, Ian Mortimer brings historical facts and concepts together in an
exciting combination to provide a background for the reading of
medieval literature. Even such details as the size and lay-outs
of medieval towns become more memorable through his presentation.
For those well-versed in the period, Ian
Mortimer brings a wonderful sense of humor to medieval history.
Last but not least, THE TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL
ENGLAND is highly recommended to historical fiction, romance and
mystery authors writing in this period. Not only will his
research help provide more accuracy to historical fiction, but his
imagination asks the kinds of questions fictional authors should
ask. Ian Mortimer's THE TIME TRAVELER'S GUIDE
TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND is a must
read for medieval enthusiasts of all fashions and at all levels!
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Medieval Book Reviews
|
|
|
