What do you think?
Rate this book
A Compendium of Common Knowledge, 1558-1603: Elizabethan Commonplaces for Writers, Actors & Re-enactors
The Compendium of Common Knowedge (1558-1603) offers insight into ordinary lives-both common and noble-in the England of Queen Elizabeth I and Shakespeare. In this little book you'll find notes on Elizabethan food, occupations, games, and pastimes, also religion, manners, attitudes, and education-the little details that make up daily life, that everyone knows without thinking. The Compendium, used on-line by Renaissance fairs and schools all over the world, provides a unique reference for writers, students, actors, re-enactors, and Elizabethan enthusiasts of all kinds.
208 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2008
3 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 24, 2025
Excellent resource for Elizabethan-era reenactors/renaissance festival* actors. This book covers a tremendous amount of ground in a fairly slim volume (for more detailed research, each section refers to generally available source material, both primary and secondary). Books like this often pitch themselves to a pretty wide range of readers, but generally are a good fit for only one of them: general readers (contains a bunch of entertaining but not especially connected facts, often leavened with some fairly tortured jokes), writers, and reenactors/actors. This one is well suited for reenactors. It would also work pretty well for writers but probably has too many lists for the average general reader. Solid 4 stars.
* assuming that the Renaissance festival in question is both Elizabethan (much of the details are pretty specific so a Tudor-era actor may be disappointed) and also at least somewhat concerned with historical accuracy.
* assuming that the Renaissance festival in question is both Elizabethan (much of the details are pretty specific so a Tudor-era actor may be disappointed) and also at least somewhat concerned with historical accuracy.
March 25, 2011
If you have ever suffered through HBO's The Tudors because you knew they barely got the names right and nothing else? If the movie Elizabeth made your hair stand on end because the director decided history was not interesting enough and that QE1 was not weak enough to be entertaining to modern audiences? If it bugged you to no end that Jeremy Irons as Lord Leicester was wearing his sword upside down in the HBO Eliabeth series ...
This is a book for you.
Ms. Secara is a genius with research and presents history as it should be presented: organized and interesting. We used this tome in its early, pre-print days as the Bible for serious Renaissance actors. The day it was published was a day of celebration for all of us who think history is fascinating as is and does not need a modern makeover to add interest.
The Compendium covers the reign of Elizabeth I, but to understand her you need to see her in context. This Ms. Secara does wonderfully. This is the reference book so many of us would like Hollywood to use.
This is a book for you.
Ms. Secara is a genius with research and presents history as it should be presented: organized and interesting. We used this tome in its early, pre-print days as the Bible for serious Renaissance actors. The day it was published was a day of celebration for all of us who think history is fascinating as is and does not need a modern makeover to add interest.
The Compendium covers the reign of Elizabeth I, but to understand her you need to see her in context. This Ms. Secara does wonderfully. This is the reference book so many of us would like Hollywood to use.
April 11, 2022
This book was sooo helpful when writing my own book set in this time period. I still reference it often and HIGHLY recommend it to anyone writing a story that takes place in Elizabethan England!
August 21, 2025
Fun! A light read that felt like scrolling with the amount of hoping between topics. Would be a great gift for someone doing a Shakespeare show!
July 28, 2012
If I were still an Elizabethan-era historical reenactor, I would insist that every person in my group or guild read and know the information in this book. It's just that simple, and that important.
The "Compendium of Common Knowledge" is material that every person during the Elizabethan age would have known, from forms of address to duties of servants, from marriage customs to currency ... and a good many other things in between.
Secara's expertise derives from many years as a reenactor who meticulously searched and researched to develop her character and to help improve the quality of performances and interactions at the events in which she participated (this is discussed a little bit at the end of the book, which features a sort of character development study guide to help actors/reenactors understand more about the historical person whom they portray).
Above all, though, this is an easily digestible book written with intelligence and wit. One can sit down and read it from cover to cover, or one can easily look up specific sections to learn in depth about a given event, person, etc.
Anyone who works, or plays, at a Renaissance Faire would do well to read this book. It will "up your game," so to speak, and make you a better cast member for the guests with whom you come in contact. I promise.
This is also a book that will prove useful to historical fiction authors who want their tales to ring true.
The "Compendium of Common Knowledge" is material that every person during the Elizabethan age would have known, from forms of address to duties of servants, from marriage customs to currency ... and a good many other things in between.
Secara's expertise derives from many years as a reenactor who meticulously searched and researched to develop her character and to help improve the quality of performances and interactions at the events in which she participated (this is discussed a little bit at the end of the book, which features a sort of character development study guide to help actors/reenactors understand more about the historical person whom they portray).
Above all, though, this is an easily digestible book written with intelligence and wit. One can sit down and read it from cover to cover, or one can easily look up specific sections to learn in depth about a given event, person, etc.
Anyone who works, or plays, at a Renaissance Faire would do well to read this book. It will "up your game," so to speak, and make you a better cast member for the guests with whom you come in contact. I promise.
This is also a book that will prove useful to historical fiction authors who want their tales to ring true.
September 15, 2016
Fantastic book! This was written by a rennie, for rennies. It's full of information that the average person would know in the Elizabethan period, and is also relevant for countries other than England. I read the whole thing straight through, but will also be keeping it handy for reference. I would highly recommend it for any Renaissance reenactor.
August 12, 2016
A fantastic resource for students, history buffs, and creative people. If you want to know what real life was like for real folks in the English "Renaissance," this is an excellent starting point that will inspire you to research further.
May 17, 2012
A must-read for all fans of Elizabethan historical fiction.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews