Medieval Hunting

by Richard Almond

Hunting was a major economic and leisure activity throughout the European Middle Ages, and while aristocratic practices have featured in studies of romantic and narrative literature, hunting in its wider sense, across the social spectrum with attendant male and female roles, has larged been ignored by modern medieval historians. Richard Almond's study brings vividly to life the universality and centrality of hunting to medieval societies, both as an economic necessity and as an expression of medieval humanity's amost atavistic sense of oneness with nature. Medieval Hunting dispels some of the myths and misunderstandings about hunting, including the persistent view that it was exclusively an aristocratic pursuit and a male one at that. Using a wide variety of contemporary textual and art historical evidence, Richard Almond demonstrates convincingly that hunting, including fishing and all manner of poaching, was enjoyed by all classes, and by women as well as men.

Genres: Medieval, History

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 25, 2003

Reviews

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear, informative, thorough, and maintains the reader's interest throughout. A minor point given the scope of the text, but I disagree with Almond's decision to perpetuate the 'argument' for ambiguity surrounding Dame Juliana Berger's authorship -- I have yet to see convincing evidence for this. It takes no stretch of the imagination to believe that at least one woman in the entirety of the medieval era could be both knowledgeable about fishing & hunting and possess the desire & ability to write about it (Cf. Christine de Pizan's Livre des faits d'armes et de chevallerie). Otherwise I found this book to be enlightening and enjoyable, and would recommend it to other medievalists.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent overview of medieval hunting culture. Almond's emphasis on the universality of hunting is a significant revision of most historical thinking on the subject. As a hunter himself, he provides some important insights into the practice and ritual of the hunt. I can't bring myself to rate this higher, though, because I noted a few factual inaccuracies in the text. One, his inclusion of a specious website on female knights as a legitimate source, is glaring and makes me skeptical of some of his other claims. While I think most of what he says is backed by sound historical research, that website plants a seed of doubt.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A technical book about medieval hunting. Marked down by me as quotes are in the original medieval English. I fin them hard to read and would like translations included with them, especially for long passages.