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aceofknives's review against another edition
funny
informative
slow-paced
4.25
A great look at what mediveal people knew and thought socially, personally, politically about bodies. Looks at the mediveal body from head to foot checking in with each sense along the way. It looks a lot at how physicality informed mentality and how mentality informed physicality and how those both affected someone sociall in the mediveal conception of existence.
All trigger warnings are discussed not perpetuated by the author. They are looking at these issues from a sociopolitical and historic view.
All trigger warnings are discussed not perpetuated by the author. They are looking at these issues from a sociopolitical and historic view.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Medical trauma, Blood, Gore, Body horror, and Medical content
Moderate: Ableism, Pregnancy, Classism, Racism, Sexual content, Islamophobia, Antisemitism, and Sexism
Minor: Hate crime, Infidelity, Eating disorder, Rape, War, Homophobia, Death, Excrement, Colonisation, Mental illness, Infertility, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
emmaccate's review against another edition
5.0
I've read many books about the Medieval period and this is by far my favourite. It brings something new to the table in terms of how the book is thematically presented via body parts. Not only does it contain beautifully high quality images showing art and artifacts from the period but it also contextualises them in engaging prose that humanises the period. It should definitely be read rather than listened to as the many images mean an audiobook by its nature leaves significant parts out.
The book's coverage of the entire period and the spanning of multiple continents means its aims sometimes exceed its grasp. However, I admire that it gives readers a historical context beyond European Christianity and the detailed bibliography means that further research can be easily found. It is also incredibly refreshing to see both Islamic and Jewish medieval experiences represented.
A really thrilling read. I devoured this over a couple of days and I will certainly be reading more by this author.
The book's coverage of the entire period and the spanning of multiple continents means its aims sometimes exceed its grasp. However, I admire that it gives readers a historical context beyond European Christianity and the detailed bibliography means that further research can be easily found. It is also incredibly refreshing to see both Islamic and Jewish medieval experiences represented.
A really thrilling read. I devoured this over a couple of days and I will certainly be reading more by this author.
olosta's review against another edition
3.0
Very interesting topic, but I didn't like the authors approach much. He often strays so far away from the central subject, i.e. the body, that it gets buried under miscellaneous facts only marginally relating to the body.
An example: in the chapter about Feet, a large portion of the text talks about travelling and maps. I would've preffered the author to write more about the actual body part, feet, and how they were positioned in the medieval understanding of the body.
An example: in the chapter about Feet, a large portion of the text talks about travelling and maps. I would've preffered the author to write more about the actual body part, feet, and how they were positioned in the medieval understanding of the body.