Customer Reviews

A Medieval Home Companion: Housekeeping in the Fourteenth Century

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As far as it goes, this is a very good modern version of the mediaeval classic, "The Goodman of Paris". Anyone interested in urban life in the high middle ages would do well to read this. It is illustrated with appropriate woodcuts and is well laid out. I just wish that all of the original material had been used. This is more of a shortcoming for the serious student than for the novice.

This was such a charming translation, I read it in one sitting. Basically covers a small portion of his directions to his young wife as to how to run the house and comport herself in public, and includes a small amount of gardening advice along with some home remedies. He was indeed a good man (for his time), and one can imagine his wife was charming as well. It's too bad Ms. Bayard didn't undertake more of the work of the "Menagier de Paris" -- she said it was because she didn't think people would be interested ... but having read other translations, I certainly am. She has a real gift for this. I hope she comes out with more.