Manners, Custom and Dress During the Middle Ages and During the Renaissance Period

by P.L. Jacob

In sociology, manners are the unenforced standards of conduct which show the actor to be cultured, polite, and refined. They are like laws in that they codify or set a standard for human behavior, but they are unlike laws in that there is no formal system for punishing transgressions, other than social disapproval. They are a kind of norm. What is considered "mannerly" is highly susceptible to change with time, geographical location, social stratum, occasion, and other factors. That manners matter is evidenced by the fact that large books have been written on the subject, advice columns frequently deal with questions of mannerly behavior, and that schools have existed for the sole purpose of teaching manners. A lady is a term frequently used for a woman who follows proper manners; the term gentleman is used as a male counterpart; though these terms are also often used for members of a particular social class. (Quote from wikipedia.org)

About the Author

Paul Lacroix (1806 - 1884)
Paul Lacroix (April 27, 1806 - October 16, 1884), French author and journalist, was born in Paris, the son of a novelist.

He is best known under his pseudonym of P.L. Jacob, bibliophile, or Bibliophile Jacob, suggested by the constant interest he took in public libraries and books generally. Lacroix was an extremely prolific and varied writer. Over twenty historical romances alone came from his pen, and he also wrote a variety of serious historical works, including a history of Napoleon III, and the life and times of the Tsar Nicholas I of Russia.

He was the joint author with Ferdinand Sere of a five-volume work, Le moyen age et la renaissance (1847), a standard work on the manners, customs and dress of those times, the chief merit of which lies in the great number of illu

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Reference, Historical, Medieval History, Classics

570 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1877

About the author

Pseudonym of Paul LaCroix, also known as "P.L. Jacob, bibliophile" and "Le Bibliophile Jacob".

Reviews

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

An encompassing background of the Middle Ages and Renaissance period is presented in this work. It cover both the elite and the peasants looking at among other things customs, living and work conditions, food, dress, and religion. It gives a good overview and is an interesting addition to the library of anyone interested in the history of Europe during these periods.

[Noka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It's one of those books that you can put down and pick up as you wish, and always learn something new. The book covers a wide range of topics from divorce law to banquet menus. By the end of the book, I felt as though I had a complete understanding of the time and it's setting.

[Kilian Metcalf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was too strapped for cash to buy a hard copy. Unfortunately Kindle doesn't show any of the illustrations that would make this book invaluable to an SCA member. Still, filled with good background information. You get what you pay for, and this book was free.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

The sections on Jewish and Romani people were incredibly fucking racist. There are better books out there.

[Danelle]

This is a good introduction to customs and dress, despite its age. I would recommend looking at some of the newer works in this area, as many are more detailed.

[Mario Sergio · Rating 3 out of 5]

É interessante observar e verificar os costumes desta época da história e sobre o qual as pessoas tem poucas e distorcidas impressões.

São abordadas questões sobre as condições das pessoas, costumes, privilégios, direitos, a vida privada nos castelos, comidas, caça e jogos, comércio, dinheiro e finanças e muitos mais coisas sobre povos tais como ciganos e judeus.

O que peca é a formatação. As ilustrações estão indicadas, mas não estão nessa versão razão pela qual eu dei apenas 3 estrelas.

Mas vale a pena para quem desejar se informar sobre esses e outros aspectos da vida na idade média.

[Doris Raines · Rating 4 out of 5]

NICE BOOK.

[Tracy Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book on the intricacies of my favorite historical time period.

[Lindsay · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a painful book to read, but finally it is done.

[Jorvon Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a little biased in favor of Christianity, but otherwise it contains a lot of information about the European Middle Ages.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absent data from most of the leader's soundbites past, present, and more than probably the future.

[Deborah Pommer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook edition while at work.

[Velvetink]

kindle

[Chic]

Good review, worth the read.