The Goodman of Paris (Le Ménagier de Paris) wrote this book for the instruction of his young wife around 1393. He was a wealthy and learned man, a member of that enlightened haute bourgeoisie upon which the French monarchy was coming to lean with increasing confidence.When he wrote his Treatise he was at least sixty but had recently married a young wife some forty years his junior. It fell to her to make his declining years comfortable, but it was his task to make it easy for her to do so. The first part deals with her religious and moral duties: as well as giving a unique picture of the medieval view of wifely behaviour it is illustrated by a series of stories drawn from the Goodman's extensive reading and personal experience.In the second part he turns from theory to practice and from soul to body, compiling the most exhaustive treatise on household management which has come down to us from the middle ages. Gardening, hiring of servants, the purchase and preparation of food are all covered, culminating in a detailed and elaborate cookery book. Sadly the author died before he could complete the third section on hawking, games and riddles.This unique glimpse of medieval domestic life presents a worldly, dignified and compelling picture in the words of a man of sensibility and substance.
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This is a lovely book - full of interesting facts and insights for the archaeologist and historian but also with wonderful human stories. --Finds Research Group Newsletter
A must for writers and re-enactors, and a fascinating, entertaining read for anyone who has ever run a household. --Historical Novels Review
Essential reading for the armchair historian or the more active re-enactor. An excellent publication. --Randels Reviews
A must for writers and re-enactors, and a fascinating, entertaining read for anyone who has ever run a household. --Historical Novels Review
Essential reading for the armchair historian or the more active re-enactor. An excellent publication. --Randels Reviews
About the Author
The distinguished historian EILEEN POWER was Professor of Economic History at the University of Cambridge.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
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Le Menagier de Paris,
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This review is from: The Goodman of Paris (Le Menagier de Paris): A Treatise on Moral and Domestic Economy by A Citizen of Paris, c.1393 (Paperback)
"The Goodman of Paris" is a good representation of LATE fourteenth century life in Paris. The work is written by a gentleman (not a noble) of Paris as a guide for his fifteen year old wife; morality, cooking, etc... This work does not represent the great noble houses of the same time period and is not indicative of the Middle Ages as a whole, it is a snap shot into the life of a 14th century household in Paris.
The caveat of this work is that it is incomplete. The section of selection of servants and horses is not included (the author notes this in the end notes of the book). For a complete work, I highly recommend "The Good Wife's Guide (Le Menagier de Paris): A Medieval Household Book" that was published this year (2009). It is the most complete version in English.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic book on running a medieval household,
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This review is from: The Goodman of Paris (Le Menagier de Paris): A Treatise on Moral and Domestic Economy by A Citizen of Paris, c.1393 (Paperback)
This is a must-read for anyone interested in daily life in the medieval era. Written by a gentleman as an instruction book for his much younger wife, it is a guide to moral conduct and contains instructions on how to run and maintain a medieval household. Provides insight into the medieval mind and helps to cast aside the modern belief that the medieval woman had no significant role in society aside from making babies.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Accurate Look Into A Household in 14th Century Paris,
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This review is from: The Goodman of Paris (Le Menagier de Paris): A Treatise on Moral and Domestic Economy by A Citizen of Paris, c.1393 (Paperback)
This book gives you a little glimpse of what people ate in a typical home in Paris at the latter end of the 14th Century. What did they eat and why? You will see lenten foods and discussions on how things should be done.
This was written for a new bride (One can only assume the Groom did not have female family members she could work with) and it gives you a glimpse into the past.
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