Customer Reviews

Daily Life in Elizabethan England (The Greenwood Press Daily Life Through History Series)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I found this book less than impressive and what bothers me the most is the price. I bought it new, paid over $50.00 for it and frankly I thought I would be getting a lot more. A lot more information, a lot more detail, a lot more of basically everything. (Even the binding on this book is disappointing!) It might work well for a junior high school report but that is because it is rather like a junior high school report. The author paints his picture of the time in VERY broad strokes and really doesn't bother with details. It might be fine as your first reference book on the Elizabethans, but it won't due if you have more than a passing knowledge going in. At $12.95 this book would have been okay. The high price, however, raises expectations and leaves one with the impression that it is going to be a far more informative book. There are better books out there on this topic and they cost far less. Don't buy it at the full price. Don't but it if you are looking for real scholarship.

This book is an organized collection of information you've probably searched for. Great book for anyone working in the Renaissance faire circuit or for anyone wanting to go to a faire. I especially love all the games with rules and directions on how to make what was needed. It also has interesting recipes and songs in it. Some of the topics could have gone into more depth but in all very well done.

Like another reviewer, I too am in the SCA. Unlike that reviewer, I found this book wanting based on the first three pages alone! The author makes multiple factual errors, e.g. describing the period from the beginning of Henry VIII's reign to the English Civil War as "peaceful." My guess is that Henry VIII's war with France, Elizabeth's persistent problems on the Scots border, and the Armada were deemed insignificant. He describes Mary Tudor's reign as undistinguished and refers to her restorattion of the Catholic church and persecution of Protestants as something of an afterthought. This demonstrates at a minimum that the author has seriously neglected an understanding of the historical reality of the period. This calls into questions anything else that may be brought forward regarding "Daily Life." I am reluctant to "review" a book I have not read, but given the preview on Amazon, I was deeply troubled!

I have been playing in a Medieval Society (SCA) for almost 13 years and thought I knew most of what I would read in this book but I was astounded by the wonderful depth of information. If you are a recreationist, this book is for you!!

Some useful information compiled here, but a very frustrating number of pages were missing (with duplicates of other pages inserted instead). I don't know if I got an early print run or what happened. In particular mine was missing pages 25, 35, 76, 80-1, 87, 95, 105, 152.

This book is entertaining and informative - I know that's a cliche but in the case of this volume it is true. Mr. Singman has the knack of picking out the most fascinating details while weaving them into a tapestry of subject matter. I really enjoyed the chapters on economy, food, entertainment, and clothing. Most of the works I've read focusing on the above deal only with the very richest folks; this book looks closely at peasants and middle class citizens of Elizabethan England as well, but still manages to throw in that the Queen was known to play dice. Reading this book felt like being talked to by a fascinating and learned professor who answers my questions before I ask them. I wish he'd write "even more daily life in Elizabethan England". History buffs, do yourselves a favor and get this one.

This is an amazing book. It helped me ace my Shakespeare project. Thanks!