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Life in Medieval France
An enthralling social history of France during the Middle Ages.
Perfect for readers of Ian Mortimer, John Julius Norwich and Frances Gies.
Without doubt France was one of the wealthiest and most magnificent realms of the medieval world.
Gothic architecture soared to the skies, troubadours sang romantic ballads and knights jousted for chivalric honour. Yet, this was also a land where peasants served their masters with little freedom, while war, pestilence and famine threatened their lives and those of their families.
E.R. Chamberlin’s fascinating overview of medieval France introduces the reader to what life was like for these peasants and knights, how merchants were developing towns and guilds, in what ways Christianity imbued the thoughts of all people, and how art and architecture was developing throughout the land.
Life in Medieval France is an essential book for anyone interested in learning more about both high and low society during this remarkable period.
Perfect for readers of Ian Mortimer, John Julius Norwich and Frances Gies.
Without doubt France was one of the wealthiest and most magnificent realms of the medieval world.
Gothic architecture soared to the skies, troubadours sang romantic ballads and knights jousted for chivalric honour. Yet, this was also a land where peasants served their masters with little freedom, while war, pestilence and famine threatened their lives and those of their families.
E.R. Chamberlin’s fascinating overview of medieval France introduces the reader to what life was like for these peasants and knights, how merchants were developing towns and guilds, in what ways Christianity imbued the thoughts of all people, and how art and architecture was developing throughout the land.
Life in Medieval France is an essential book for anyone interested in learning more about both high and low society during this remarkable period.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1967
43 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
E.R. Chamberlin
41 books29 followersEric Russell Chamberlin (1926-2006)
Historian and author. Chamberlin was the author of numerous popular history books ranging from ancient Rome to twentieth-century Britain. Although he was born in Jamaica, he returned to England with his father during the Great Depression. Chamberlin dropped out of school when he was fourteen and became an apprentice leather dresser.
When he was old enough, he eagerly left this work behind to enlist in the Royal Navy in 1944. He served in the military until 1947 and then found work at the Norwich Public Library. It was here that his real education began, and Chamberlin took advantage of his vocation by reading history texts avidly. He later also worked at the Holborn Public Library and then for the book division at Readers’ Digest.
His first book, The Count of Virtue: Giangaleazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, was released in 1965. This would be followed by thirty more books over the next three decades. Among these are The Bad Popes (1969), The Sack of Rome (1979), The Nineteenth Century (1983), The Emperor, Charlemagne (1986), and The Tower of London: An Illustrated History (1989). Also active in historical preservation projects, Chamberlin helped rescue the Guildford Institute building from destruction in 1982 and had a monument to Admiral Horatio Nelson constructed on Mt. Etna in Italy.
For the former endeavor, Chamberlin was recognized with an honorary degree from the University of Surrey in 1982.
Historian and author. Chamberlin was the author of numerous popular history books ranging from ancient Rome to twentieth-century Britain. Although he was born in Jamaica, he returned to England with his father during the Great Depression. Chamberlin dropped out of school when he was fourteen and became an apprentice leather dresser.
When he was old enough, he eagerly left this work behind to enlist in the Royal Navy in 1944. He served in the military until 1947 and then found work at the Norwich Public Library. It was here that his real education began, and Chamberlin took advantage of his vocation by reading history texts avidly. He later also worked at the Holborn Public Library and then for the book division at Readers’ Digest.
His first book, The Count of Virtue: Giangaleazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, was released in 1965. This would be followed by thirty more books over the next three decades. Among these are The Bad Popes (1969), The Sack of Rome (1979), The Nineteenth Century (1983), The Emperor, Charlemagne (1986), and The Tower of London: An Illustrated History (1989). Also active in historical preservation projects, Chamberlin helped rescue the Guildford Institute building from destruction in 1982 and had a monument to Admiral Horatio Nelson constructed on Mt. Etna in Italy.
For the former endeavor, Chamberlin was recognized with an honorary degree from the University of Surrey in 1982.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 23, 2022
Life in Medieval France by E R Chamberlin is a very good overview and, even with age, is an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to learn more.
I have read several of Chamberlin's books, though none in quite some time, and this slim volume reminded me of what made them worthwhile: wonderful writing and a focused clarity. This is not an academic work, which is neither a positive nor a negative, it is a statement. The rigor and research are present but it is written to inform, engage, and entertain in equal proportion. In some ways, many academic writers could have learned a few things from Chamberlin.
Even with scholarship that has shed light on many aspects of the period this book still serves its purpose well. Because it is an overview it is less affected by changes to how we understand some of the smaller details.
While ideal for those looking to start their journey into medieval history, this is also a wonderful book for those who have drilled so deep into a specific area or theme that they sometimes lose track of the bigger picture and the longer view. This volume helps with that.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
I have read several of Chamberlin's books, though none in quite some time, and this slim volume reminded me of what made them worthwhile: wonderful writing and a focused clarity. This is not an academic work, which is neither a positive nor a negative, it is a statement. The rigor and research are present but it is written to inform, engage, and entertain in equal proportion. In some ways, many academic writers could have learned a few things from Chamberlin.
Even with scholarship that has shed light on many aspects of the period this book still serves its purpose well. Because it is an overview it is less affected by changes to how we understand some of the smaller details.
While ideal for those looking to start their journey into medieval history, this is also a wonderful book for those who have drilled so deep into a specific area or theme that they sometimes lose track of the bigger picture and the longer view. This volume helps with that.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
June 16, 2022
Although “life in medieval France“ is short and only has six chapters this was one of the most interesting history books I have ever read. From the killing of Christians to their rebirth after the first millennia their understanding of astronomy and those who came before in a lot more and it’s all in this book and I totally enjoyed it. It starts of course with the Franks in the germanium‘s conquering the land to the Greeks the Hungarians on and on how to make modern day France that we know it today. I hope I am not leaving anything in Porten out in this brief summary as although the book was short they still have packed a lot in it. I highly recommend this book to those who like history for more than just academic reasons because this book is totally entertaining. I was given this book by Met Gallie and I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any errors as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.
June 2, 2019
A profusely illustrated work written by a non-professional historian (gasp!) over 50 years ago, Life in Medieval France is a good introduction to its subject.
Its best features are wonderfully evocative sentences on topics ranging from mainmorte ("a shameful practice which was exerted only on the defenceless") to the very real limits of village life ("The trackway that joined one to another was used, for the most part, only by men intent upon ill-will").
Its best features are wonderfully evocative sentences on topics ranging from mainmorte ("a shameful practice which was exerted only on the defenceless") to the very real limits of village life ("The trackway that joined one to another was used, for the most part, only by men intent upon ill-will").
July 13, 2022
A compact, informative, and engaging history book. It made me learn a lot about life in Medieval France and I appreciated the style of writing.
It's a short book but it's full of information.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's a short book but it's full of information.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
June 24, 2022
I have read so many books on Medieval England, Medieval Germany that considering my genealogical background is mostly French, I figured I would give this book a try. I was so glad that I did. I learned so very much! There was so much information packed into what was actually quite a short book that I am chomping on the bit to learn more. The author did an excellent job detailing all the various important parts of medieval history in France that I found myself taking notes as I was listening to the book as Alexa read it to me. I am now going to do further research and see what else I can come up with. I definitely recommend this book to history buffs and historians interested in medieval France.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews