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572 reviews for:
The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century
Ian Mortimer
4.02 AVERAGE
572 reviews for:
The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century
Ian Mortimer
4.02 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
I enjoy the concept presented in this, as a time traveler experiencing history from the perspective of those alive at the time. Lots of lists.
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
The book is definitely crafted well, I'm just not a huge fan of non-fiction. I would've liked there to be a chapter dedicated to the lives of soldiers, as Mortimer repeatedly referenced men having to go to fight overseas, but didn't elaborate on those experiences. There were some very nice full color pages of reference art, however they were all bunched up so oftentimes you'd be seeing an image reference for content discussed 80 pages prior. I understand this design choice was likely due to how printing a book is done, however I think it would've been beneficial to note somewhere that there was an example image on a future page.
Also, as an American, there are a fair amount of UK-centric references and statements that as an American I didn't automatically understand. This isn't a fault of the book, however it's something to keep in mind if you're an American reader thinking of picking it up. I also didn't have a religious upbringing so most of the religious content went over my head as well, unless it was directly explained.
Also goddamn this dude loves Chaucer.
Also, as an American, there are a fair amount of UK-centric references and statements that as an American I didn't automatically understand. This isn't a fault of the book, however it's something to keep in mind if you're an American reader thinking of picking it up. I also didn't have a religious upbringing so most of the religious content went over my head as well, unless it was directly explained.
Also goddamn this dude loves Chaucer.
It started out with a "virtual reality" type setting, where the narrator is showing you around and giving you tips and advice, then it switched up, so it stopped being as fun to read. Still full of interesting information, though.
I feel like I've been reading this book for years--yes, actually, I quite literally have been--so I guess I shouldn't be surprised to find myself so emotional upon finally closing the back cover. This book is a guide, a history, a mentor; one I will pick up and put down for as long as I feel called to write stories adjacent to the time period Mortimer focuses on. Accessible and perhaps even silly, I am immensely grateful for this book.
This is excellent, covering both well-known and little-considered aspects of daily medieval life in the 14th century, in England. Although this is an area of history I've quite a bit of interest and therefore knowledge about, I didn't find the topics covered here to be dull or overplayed at all. The sociological, living history perspective was quite different, while simultaneously delving into areas that we medieval recreationists often don't muck about with, because our modern sociological systems are so pervasive we just keep them going, even when we're dressed in silly clothes and sleeping in tents for weeks at a time. Do we keep time at events in a medieval fashion? No, of course not. We use modern timekeeping. We also glaze past the true way our personas would interact with their religious convictions, or the implications of having a population demographic that is heavily skewed to the young, or how you would handle an injury or illness. Consequentially, our portrayals are frequently very shallow and largely related to material culture only, and this does us a great disservice.
If I could have my way, I would love to see this book rewritten with a continental (read: French) perspective, because that is my own particular area of interest. Though much was similar or shared, culturally, between France and England at this time, there were differences no doubt, and I hesitate to extrapolate thoughtlessly. Still, I loved this book and am glad I took the time to read it.
If I could have my way, I would love to see this book rewritten with a continental (read: French) perspective, because that is my own particular area of interest. Though much was similar or shared, culturally, between France and England at this time, there were differences no doubt, and I hesitate to extrapolate thoughtlessly. Still, I loved this book and am glad I took the time to read it.
A very very interesting and informative book. It took me straight to the 14th century. There were so many interesting details and the descriptions were excellent.
I'd truly recommend this book.
I'd truly recommend this book.
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Deeply enjoyed this romp through the 14th century, guided by a writing style that is sincere without being somber, and funny without poking fun. I am significantly better informed, as well as feeling a profound sense of kinship with those who came before me.
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Certainly one of the more entertaining history books out there. But the author goes into such detail on some topics that I found myself skipping some pages at a time, on the basis of personal taste.
Nonetheless, I come away from the book having learnt a lot about 14th century & mostly having enjoyed the experience despite the author assuming I’m a man.
Nonetheless, I come away from the book having learnt a lot about 14th century & mostly having enjoyed the experience despite the author assuming I’m a man.
This book finished on a high note. There were some slow, boring parts. But for the most part this was such a fun book. It really brought the people of the Middle Ages alive. It is a book the brings history to life and puts it in the present. It also makes a beautiful argument of why history matters. Why the Middle Ages and those people matter.
I DID IT, I freaking finished this book. I think I deserve some applause.
I love history, even the dry facts, a lot of the time. While the writing style in this book was actually quite nice, the content could be a drag. I found it harder to go through than a schoolbook.
I've had this book on my currently-reading shelf for 9 months or so. It was a chore. The author was nitpicking uninteresting details and forgetting whole aspects that I think matter, are interesting and would make this book a lot more lively. He explains things that are pretty insignificant and uninteresting or obvious but throws around other words without an explanation when it really needs explaining.
Apparently, you have to be a male to time travel to medieval England, who knew?! First of all, why does the author assume I'm a man? But second, and most of all, where are the women in this book? Don't tell me they didn't play a role in this society, because they did. Ugh, I only realised halfway through that this was what was bothering me the most, but by then I felt I had worked too hard to dnf this.
This book just didn't sit well with me, even though I tried so hard to like it, I really wanted to like it... There were some wonderful moments where I really felt like I was in the time and place he was describing, but they do not compare to the times I forced myself to continue reading this book.
I love history, even the dry facts, a lot of the time. While the writing style in this book was actually quite nice, the content could be a drag. I found it harder to go through than a schoolbook.
I've had this book on my currently-reading shelf for 9 months or so. It was a chore. The author was nitpicking uninteresting details and forgetting whole aspects that I think matter, are interesting and would make this book a lot more lively. He explains things that are pretty insignificant and uninteresting or obvious but throws around other words without an explanation when it really needs explaining.
Apparently, you have to be a male to time travel to medieval England, who knew?! First of all, why does the author assume I'm a man? But second, and most of all, where are the women in this book? Don't tell me they didn't play a role in this society, because they did. Ugh, I only realised halfway through that this was what was bothering me the most, but by then I felt I had worked too hard to dnf this.
This book just didn't sit well with me, even though I tried so hard to like it, I really wanted to like it... There were some wonderful moments where I really felt like I was in the time and place he was describing, but they do not compare to the times I forced myself to continue reading this book.