Everyday Life in Medieval London

From the Anglo-Saxons to the Tudors

By: Toni Mount

Narrated by: Anne Flosnik

Our capital city has always been a thriving and colorful place, full of diverse and determined individuals developing trade and finance, exchanging gossip and doing business. Abandoned by the Romans, rebuilt by the Saxons, occupied by the Vikings and reconstructed by the Normans, London would become the largest trade and financial center, dominating the world in later centuries. London has always been a brilliant, vibrant, and eclectic place—Henry V was given a triumphal procession there after his return from Agincourt and the Lord Mayor’s river pageant was an annual medieval spectacular. William the Conqueror built the Tower, Thomas Becket was born in Cheapside, Wat Tyler led the peasants in revolt across London Bridge and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales was the first book produced on Caxton’s new printing press in Westminster. But beneath the color and pageantry lay dirt, discomfort and disease, the daily grind for ordinary folk. Like us, they had family problems, work worries, health concerns and wondered about the weather.

©2014 Toni Mount (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Historical accuracy at the personal level

The narrator's voice was distracting at times, but the content kept your interest anyway. Some people covered are known historical people, but most are average people in the specific job or situation being covered. The author gives lots of details on what each person had to do in their job, how the community lives as a whole, how it all fits in medieval history. I hope the author has more books. Highly recommend.

A Fascinating Dive

While much of the information is dispensed through historical anecdotes rather than one fact after another, this title should be lauded for analyzing a wide array of elements of daily medieval life, then returning to these elements in later ages.

Interesting survey

Although the author desires to focus on London, it seems that there may not be sufficient surviving records to provide a very detailed analysis. I did very much enjoy this nevertheless.

Interesting

The book covers the period 500 AD -- 1500 AD of London's history. The first centuries are more about big events and powerful people because there is little documentary evidence of daily life of ordinary people. It's only after the Dark Ages that more and more documents of different nature start to give a clearer picture of the subject. The organization of the book is by subject: women, guilds, health, death, etc.

Great book, ok narration

Great book! I admit I have a hard time listening to Anne Flosnik's voice, but it grew on me. A bit.