Medieval Woman

Village Life in the Middle Ages

By: Ann Baer

Narrated by: Sarah Whitehouse

A history of peasants in the Middle Ages, the story takes the listener into the life of Marion, the carpenter's wife, and her extended family as they struggle to survive through hardship, featuring a year in their lives at the mercy of the weather and the Lord of the Manor.

Existing without soap, paper or glass and only with the most basic of tools, we learn how they survive starvation, sickness, fire and natural disaster in their home on the edge of the Weald.

©1998 Ann Baer (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

Interesting

Somewhat monotonous as I’m sure the life of a medieval woman must normally have been. Lives revolved around seasons and food stores and other essentials. I think what struck me as most sad is that they didn’t have much to occupy their minds in fallow times. No books, no nothing. Just sitting quiet and staying warm was all the luxury they could expect. Even an imaginative person usually had little to occupy the mind since they only had nature and knew almost nothing about the rest of the world. Second was the filth. People knew little about cleanliness and rarely washed. The stink must have been godawful. Pretty realistic portrait of the life of a serf.

I was surprised at the close relationship with the manor, the friendliness that seemed to exist between the noble family and their serfs. And also how little difference there seemed to be between their lives and the sorrows they were subject to.

The narrator is perfect for this.

I docked it one star because, with the lack of any actual plot, I was glad when it was done.

I want a Sequel!

Enthralled by this tale of a young woman’s life in a village where it was rare and frightening ( and few did) to even to travel to the next town. I did not want it to end!

A delightful listen

I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did, and it is so sad to see there are not more books like this. The author takes extensive research about the lives of common village women in the Middles Ages and weaves a narrative of the daily life of one woman through the cycle of the year. There is no major conflict, just extensive detail of the woman living her life and the workings of the village as seen through her eyes. It is absolutely relaxing, entertaining, and informative at the same time. I would love to see the author produce more historical narrative fiction like this focusing on women in other locations (cities) or other roles.

good book

It was enjoyable. It was what life probably looked like for a woman during those times. Only thing I didn't care for much was the narration. I liked the accent when the narrator was being in the first person. I did not care for her toddler impression when the narrator attempted the toddler voice. At least there wasn't a lot of it. Ewwww.. It is just my opinion. You may not mind it at all.

Reality check

Wonderful work. A friendly reminder of all the technological, legal, and social advances western society enjoys today.