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Title: Life in a Medieval Castle by Joseph Gies ISBN: 0-06-090674-X Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 01 January, 1979 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.15 (13 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A must-have for anyone who loves the Middle Ages!
Comment: Life in a Medieval Castle is absolutely masterful! Extremely well researched, each chapter is a goldmine of information. The work not only offers a wonderful summary of the history of the development of the castle but also gives the reader a real feel for castle life. The text is engaging and very well written. Jargon specific to discussions of feudalism and castles is defined in concise tables at the back of the book. Liberally sprinkled with excellent photographs, the book provides extras, such as a schematic drawing of a castle and words and music to medieval songs (although I did find myself wishing that at least some of the plates could have been in color). The geographical guide to castles is comprehensive and examples are chosen with care. Bibliography is provided for each chapter for those readers who wish to study certain topics in-depth. Bibliographic selections are authoritative, current and comprehensive. The index is also well done and easy to use. The book is an excellent addition to reading lists for courses on the Middle Ages as well as an enjoyable read for anyone who wishes to learn more about medieval life.
Rating: 4
Summary: Great Overview to Whett Your Interest in Medieval Castles
Comment: This is an excellent overview of castle life in England from just after the Conquest until decline of the feudal era. It's nicely illustrated with photographs of extant castles and period illustrations. I would definitely recommend this as either a book for the casual reader who might have an interest in medieval social life or a beginning for a more serious study.
The authors try to do a fair assesment of such issues as medieval hygeine (where it is all too easy to overwhelm the readers with descriptions of how dirty and disgusting the medieval life would be to modern sensibilities, thus overlooking that there was concern about unpleasant smells from the privy chamber, and how to fix it). The discussion on the duties associated with the feudal relationship is also very clear and readable. I particularly was interested in the mention at several points that physical blows were used as mnemonic aids. The buffet given a squire upon being knight was no mere tap, but many times a hearty blow meant to make him remember his oath of knightood. Also, beating the bounds was used to teach youngsters where the important landmarks were often by giving them a blow at the site of the landmark, or even bumping them against it. Fascinating look at the medieval ideas about learning-- which does have some effectiveness, epecially in a largely illiterate society, although it would probably be cause for arrest in any state in the US if it was used today.
Libraries have been written on any one of the sujects that was mentioned in this book so don't expect it to hold the one answer to any question about medieval life in a castle, but it can't be beat for a clearly written overview.
Rating: 3
Summary: just the facts m'lady
Comment: The authors do an excellent job describing, in great detail, the ins and outs of of life in a midieval castle. So, it would be of great use to someone doing a research report for some odd reason on the subject. Otherwise, I found the book unfit for casual reading because its nothing but factoid after factoid, presented without a hint of personality. Basically reads like an owners manual. I was expecting more with a subject this fascinating.
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Title: Life in a Medieval City by Joseph Gies, Frances Gies ISBN: 0060908807 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 01 August, 1981 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Life in a Medieval Village by Frances Gies, Joseph Gies ISBN: 0060920467 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 01 January, 1991 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Marriage and the Family in the Middle Ages by Frances Gies, Joseph Gies ISBN: 0060914688 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 01 December, 1988 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Women in the Middle Ages by Frances Gies, Joseph Gies ISBN: 0060923040 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 01 January, 1980 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Castles: Their Construction and History by Sidney Toy ISBN: 0486248984 Publisher: Dover Publications Pub. Date: 01 August, 1985 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
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