Cover Image: How to Survive in Medieval England

How to Survive in Medieval England

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Member Reviews

While I don't think this book will help you survive medieval times, I found the book to be enjoyable and entertaining. I especially liked the interviews with historical figures. I just wish the book had been longer. I recommend this book be on the reference shelf of any historical writer or fantasy writer.

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher and/or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Pen and Sword for granting my wish to read this.

This was everything I expected it to be and more. This felt like a Lonely Planet travel guide for Medieval England. I really enjoyed the language, format and tone of this. Mount relays information in an easy, lighthearted way that is accessible for all. This could be read by anyone regardless of whether or not they had any prior knowledge of Medieval history.

Mount includes fictionalised interviews with real figures that are rooted in reference materials from the time period. I thought this was a great way to engage a reader and really helpful in providing examples of different ways of life.

I think my favourite part might have been the section regarding Law and Order; there's a small reference to the trial of animals that is particular fascinating/bizarre!

Solid 4 out of 5 stars!

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you were able to travel back in time to the medieval ages and had to start your life all over again? Could you make the transition from the 21st century to the medieval period with no electronic technology and different customs? What would you wear? How would you get around with no cars and horses being very expensive? Where would you live? What job would you have? These questions and quandaries are answered in the latest nonfiction book by Toni Mount aptly entitled, “How to Survive in Medieval England”.

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I have found time travel books really interesting in the past few years, so I was intrigued when I heard about this title.

Mount has created a fun and creative guide for those who have a passion for medieval England. For clarification, Mount defines medieval from 1154 to the death of King Richard III in 1485. It’s quite a range, but it gives the reader a chance to see how England transformed during the medieval time. In this book, Mount gives her readers the everyday details that they would want if they traveled to the past or if they just wanted to better understand the past. The information that Mount includes is practical and easy to follow so that anyone who is jumping into the past can understand.

The true highlight of this title and what separates Mount’s book from other time-traveling books are the interviews. No, she does not have her own Tardis, but it feels like she might with these passages. Mount has taken historical figures, both well known and those who her audience might not be familiar with, and has decided to write discussions with them to better understand the past and the motivation for their actions. It is a brilliant way for an author who writes both historical fiction and nonfiction to express their craft in a unique and engaging way.

I have read a few time travel books and I have to say, this one is special. It is one that is engaging for history experts and novices alike. There are warnings, but Mount has also included a bit of humor to make sure that her audience realizes that the past was not always dark.

Medieval England may look drastically different than our 21st century, but if you break it down, the people of the past are just trying to survive the best that they can just like we are. If you want a handy guide to take on your journeys to the past or you just want a book to better understand the past, I highly suggest you read this book, “How to Survive in Medieval England” by Toni Mount.

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This book is a fun introduction to the time period and setting, although it covers too broad a topic in too short a space to be a true research volume. Instead, the chatty tone and casual asides creates for an entertaining read that's anything but heavy, with a few tidbits sprinkled in that will give the reader fun trivia to explore. More of a launching point or a casual refresher, the text is neatly divided into focused chapters that make for a quick read.

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I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was a bit frivolous but thoroughly enjoyable and unexpectedly informative fun read. It sums up a medieval day-to-day life in 10 chapters, each dedicated to one aspect of life, for example health, family or law and order. I took the book on vacation and because I guffawed every once in a while when reading it I had to share funny bits with my friend who constantly asked what I'm laughing at. This was a win.

Disclaimer: I got this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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This was a fun, interesting read. Suitable for adults, as well as for middle to high school students. The author gives an excellent overview of what it would have been like to have been transported in time to Medieval England. What you would eat and what you would wear. How you would be expected to act, and how to stay out of trouble. What to do if you get sick (spoiler: just don't).
I see that the author has written several other books. I have already downloaded the first one on my Kindle, and look forward to reading it. I guess that alone should alert you that I think she is very good, and that you, also, might like to read her work.

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This was a fun book to read, with lots of information written in an easy-to-read style that keeps you interested all the way through. I loved the idea of making it into a time-travelling guide, and comparing medieval lifestyles with 21st century ones. A great read that I thoroughly enjoyed!

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I am ready to take a trip back in time to medieval times after reading this amazing guidebook. It leads you

through all the facets of life that will enable you to blend in and keep well clear of the stocks.. The book is

divided into sections, for example, food, health, and the law..A wonderful social history. I was fascinated by the

sumptuary laws.

It is lively, informative, and engaging.. My only addition would be to add - Don't be a solo traveller. Take

a friend for companionship!

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*Many thanks to Toni Mount, Pen&Sword, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
Medieval period is of a great interest to me, so I was happy to have been granted the wish. The Author decided on an informal style and approach regarding connecting with a reader. I am not a big fan of interviewing historic figues with the use of modern language, so for me this was a weak aspect of this read. However, I learnt a lot about customs and traditions, and explanations of some ideas and definitions were terrific, some quite new to me, especially with regard to vocabulary. That was a real treat and the best part of this book for me.
This non-fiction is not long and yet the author covers the main areas, including law, social strata, food and many others.

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I think I spent almost as much time laughing as I did learning while reading "How to Survive in Medieval England". It's a whole heap of fun, completely fascinating, beautifully written, and full of "OMG" facts (look out for the "Cinderella" part in particular!). If anyone manages to invent a time machine, I'd be quite happy to test my survival skills in Medieval England now I've read this book!

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

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Have you ever imagined what it would be like to travel back to the medieval era? Toni Mount has.
With this in mind, she has thus written this very accessible and highly readable, popular history book which is presented in the form of a visitor's guide for anyone wishing to take an experimental traipse through the English landscape at any point between the Norman Conquest of 1066 and Richard III's defeat at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 which heralded the dawn of the Tudor age and the end of the medieval period.
Were such a journey actually possible, of course, you might very well decide to give such an excursion a miss. Life in medieval times was tough: Literally half the entire population was wiped out by plague in the 14th century, for example. The book is full of ''Top Tips' such as: "Always keep your purse hidden out of sight under your clothes. Medieval thieves are known as 'cut-purses' for a reason. But at least there are no pickpockets as pockets haven't been invented yet."
There are also insights into medieval attitudes: society was often divided into those who prayed (nuns, monks and other church people), those who fought (soldiers and sailors) and those who laboured (the majority).. There are also interesting 'Did you knows?' littered throughout including the rather alarming intelligence that every person living today has so many potential ancestors that were it possible to travel back to the year of the 1215 Magna Carta, four out of every people you would meet would potentially be your own forebearers! The only reason this is not true is scarcely any more reassuring. All our ancestors out of necessity often paired up with their own cousins.
Such ickiness aside, this is good read, not a science fiction book at all but full of interesting titbits about what medieval people ate, wore, read (if they could read), how they married, worshipped, fought, relaxed, made money, had sex, travelled and sang.
It is a good, highly informative book. But if, as has been said, the past really is a different country then medieval England should be added to the 'Red List' without delay.

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I really enjoyed #HowToSurviveInMedievalEngland and learned some new things about everyday life in that time. I definitely wouldn’t want to stay long as a time traveller though!

If you have enjoyed Ian Mortimer’s Time Traveller’s Guide series like I did, chances are you will also like this book. Something I particularly enjoyed was the interviews with historical figures! I will be looking out for further books by this author. Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for my free advance copy in return for an unbiased review.

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I'm addicted to "How to Survive" books as I love the mix of historical facts and humour.
This one is no exception.
I learned a lot about Middle Age in an entertaining way.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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Excellent ! Informative ,engaging and accessible .
I hadn't come across the Bishop and the caterpillar court case before!

Review on my blog on publication date.

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Medieval England from 1154-1485. It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. OK, it was the worst. But you are stuck here so you might as well make the best of it. Your time machine has accidentally thrust you here. How do you navigate life before the Internet and Alexa? Use the How to Survive in Medieval England guidebook. The guide has everything a lost time traveler, or an author setting their book in this period, needs to know. You wouldn’t want to confuse a forest with a woodland, would you?

Enchanting look back at how I would be dead in a minute if I lived in Medieval England. I’m not sure how my ancestors survived. Though, of course, I’m glad they did.

If you ever think that the age of knights and damsels in distress was exciting or romantic, How to Survive in Medieval England will set you straight. You were more likely a serf or a slave than a king or even a merchant. And everything was trying to kill you.

This is a great read for those interested in the lifestyles of the period. Perfect, as I’ve said, for authors of books set within the period. Plus, it’s pretty eye-opening that only the Plague allowed the poor a chance to better themselves. 5 stars!

Thanks to Pen & Sword History and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

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This book is an excellent addition to this series. All too often histories ignore the elements of everyday life. In this book, you become a time-traveler to medieval England and look at all aspects of life for people at all levels.

With tips, excerpts from medieval writings, and lively interviews, this is an engaging book.

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I have always been interested in Medieval times. So when I saw this book I knew I needed to read it. A time traveller to Medieval England? Count me in!

The book tells you exactly what to expect should you time travel to medieval times and let me tell you: it ain't pretty! What would you eat, wear, drink and where how would you live? Your life expectancy, marriage, divorce, religion, medicine. Wow. I knew my romance novels were not exactly spot on but .. ok... Don't think the authors will use this book as research because the romance is sucked right out of you haha.

I have never been happier to live in the 21st Century :-)

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I want to start off by saying what an interesting, fun read this was. I really enjoyed how it was written in a travel guide style. It made me feel like I was really going on a trip and what to expect, as if I were researching any other trip that I would be going on.

I'm a huge history buff, and medieval times are my favorite time period in history. I was thrilled to find this book and be able to read about it. I love the tips sections, and the little "interviews". It's obviously very well-researched.

I felt that it offered a fun and funny overview of life in the Middle Ages, and it was interesting and very informative. I plan on purchasing the hardcover when it comes out. I enjoyed the photos included. Such an enjoyable read.

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Fun book about some of the oddities of medieval life in England. The writing style lends itself to younger readers.

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This is a very engaging and in depth description of life during the times and its people. I particularly enjoyed the anecdotes which break up the monotony of the otherwise non-fiction book. This would be a great book both for those just beginning to learn about medieval history and for those already well versed.

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