Book Description
This picture of the London of Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603) is the result of Liza Picard's curiosity about the practical details of daily life that almost every history book ignores. As seen in her two previous, highly acclaimed books-Restoration London and Dr. Johnson's London-she has immersed herself in contemporary sources of every kind. She begins with the River Thames, the lifeblood of Elizabethan London. The city, on the north bank of the river, was still largely confined within old Roman walls. Upriver at Westminster were the royal palaces, and between them and the crowded city the mansions of the great and the good commanded the river frontage. She shows us the interior décor of the rich and the not-so-rich, and what they were likely to be growing in their gardens. Then the Londoners of the time take the stage, in all their amazing finery. Plague, small-pox, and other diseases afflicted them. But food and drink, sex and marriage and family life provided comfort, a good education was always useful, and cares could be forgotten in a playhouse or the bear-baiting rings, or watching a good cockfight. Liza Picard's wonderfully skillful and vivid evocation of the London of four hundred years ago enables us to share the delights, as well as the horrors, of the everyday lives of sixteenth century Britain.
Customer Reviews:
Elizabeth's London.......2006-09-06
I stumbled on Liza Picard's books quite by chance. After looking at the publishing date in some of the books it is apparent some of them have been around for several years. I am now recommending them to anyone and everyone and I am so glad I stumbled across this one on a bookshop shelf. I have now read them all, but this one was the first.
As soon as you start to read the book it becomes apparent that the author is passionate about the subject and wants the reader to enjoy the experience as much as she has in the writing of it. How apt that the author starts the book with the life blood of the great City of London. Meandering like a great artery through the heart of the City. It moves on to the streets, houses and gardens; cooking, housework and shopping; clothes, jewellery and make-up; health and medicine; sex and food; education, etiquette and hobbies; religion, law and crime.
Liza Picard was born in 1927. She read law and qualified as a barrister but did not practice. Quite where she gleaned all this information from I am not sure. That it was a labour of love is obvious to anyone who reads her books and I for one am grateful.
Great bottom-up history.......2005-08-18
This book does a very good job at portraying how ordinary people lived their lives in the time of the Good Queen Bessie, from what they ate and wore to their furniture and sewage conditions. The only complaint that I have about it is that it is very difficult to visualize the descriptions of the clothing, and when referenced to one of the pictures I still didn't know what part of the outfit she was talking about. I would have rated this a 5 out of 5 if it would have included labled diagrams of the clothing.
History as Daily Life.......2005-05-02
This book is unique in that it doesn't deal with the great sweep of history and its players so much as dwell on day to day life. In particular, the daily life of ordinary people who, in their own way, were not players on the larger stage. Rather, these people were those folk just going about their life.
Any moderately well read student of the 16th century would be familiar with the world of Henry VIII, Elizabeth, Shakespeare, Francis Drake and the Spanish Armada. Yet how many of these students would be familiar with the gardens, religious beliefs, medicine, fashions and diets of the era? Yes, many would have a smattering of knowledge but Liza Picard has done a fine job in providing many of these details of life plus a host of others. Who, for example, would be familiar with such amusements as bull, bear or even lion baiting? Imagine the spectacle of setting a lion in a pit with a team of dogs for a fight to the finish; unthinkable today but of the greatest sport during Elizabeth's time.
Liza Picard's book is an unusual work of history. She has chosen to deconstruct a different world to that of most historians. Her focus has been upon the ordinary rather than the glamorous. Ms Picard has chosen a different road to travel but one that is very fulfilling for the reader. Elizabeth I was, in my opinion, the most important woman to ever live. This book goes some of the way to providing background to an extraordinary woman living in an extraordinary age.
Book Description
Students, teachers, and interested readers will find in this resource a vivid and intimate account of life in the Elizabethan age. The first book on Elizabethan England to rise out of the "living history" movement, it combines a unique hands-on approach with the best of current research. Organized for easy reference, it is enlivened with how-to sections--recipes, clothing patterns, songs and games, all gathered from original sources. This hands-on approach recreates the daily life of ordinary people, not just the aristocracy, and systematically covers the most basic facts of life in a readily accessible format. Clearly illustrated with 94 drawings, patterns, and diagrams, it provides a treasure trove of information for classroom and library use and for those interested in recreating Elizabethan life. The work is organized into sections on the structure of Elizabethan society, the course of life (birth, childhood, education, marriage, old age, and death), the cycles of time (daily, weekly, and yearly schedules, including a calendar of the Elizabethan year), the living environment (houses, villages, towns, and travel), clothing (including instruction for making complete Elizabethan male and female outfits), food (featuring a selection of recipes), and entertainment (songs with sheet music and instruction for authentic games and dances). A chronology of Tudor England, a glossary, appendices with information and ideas on organizing Elizabethan feasts and fairs, and lists of suggested readings, videos, and recordings complete the work. This is an indispensable resource for classrooms and school and public libraries because it gives readers a true understanding of what it would be like to live in 16th-century England.
Customer Reviews:
Disappointing.......2007-04-28
I found this book less than impressive and what bothers me the most is the price. I bought it new, paid over $50.00 for it and frankly I thought I would be getting a lot more. A lot more information, a lot more detail, a lot more of basically everything. (Even the binding on this book is disappointing!) It might work well for a junior high school report but that is because it is rather like a junior high school report. The author paints his picture of the time in VERY broad strokes and really doesn't bother with details. It might be fine as your first reference book on the Elizabethans, but it won't due if you have more than a passing knowledge going in. At $12.95 this book would have been okay. The high price, however, raises expectations and leaves one with the impression that it is going to be a far more informative book. There are better books out there on this topic and they cost far less. Don't buy it at the full price. Don't but it if you are looking for real scholarship.
Excellent in every way.......2005-12-28
This book is entertaining and informative - I know that's a cliche but in the case of this volume it is true. Mr. Singman has the knack of picking out the most fascinating details while weaving them into a tapestry of subject matter. I really enjoyed the chapters on economy, food, entertainment, and clothing. Most of the works I've read focusing on the above deal only with the very richest folks; this book looks closely at peasants and middle class citizens of Elizabethan England as well, but still manages to throw in that the Queen was known to play dice. Reading this book felt like being talked to by a fascinating and learned professor who answers my questions before I ask them. I wish he'd write "even more daily life in Elizabethan England". History buffs, do yourselves a favor and get this one.
good reference book to keep.......2004-07-27
This book is an organized collection of information you've probably searched for. Great book for anyone working in the Renaissance faire circuit or for anyone wanting to go to a faire. I especially love all the games with rules and directions on how to make what was needed. It also has interesting recipes and songs in it. Some of the topics could have gone into more depth but in all very well done.
A Top-Notch Reference Book.......2002-08-05
I have been playing in a Medieval Society (SCA) for almost 13 years and thought I knew most of what I would read in this book but I was astounded by the wonderful depth of information. If you are a recreationist, this book is for you!!
The Best.......2001-03-13
This is an amazing book. It helped me ace my Shakespeare project. Thanks!
Book Description
Back in print in a new paperback edition are these two volumes by A. L. Rowse that represent one of the great historical works of our time, a master historian's exploration of the social and cultural history of the Elizabethan Age. Fascinating. --New York Times
Customer Reviews:
A Great Book!.......2001-03-01
The Elizabethan Renaissance: The Life of the Society by the renowned historian of Elizabethan England A.L. Rowse is a fascinating look at life in this most remarkable period. Unlike many "social histories" which deal primarily with the upper classes of society, Mr. Rowse gives equal time to all, from the Court and the landed gentry to the middle and lower classes, examining in great detail all elements of life. He presents a complete portrait of human nature of this time, with chapters on customs, religion, sport, food, sanitation, sex, and a noteworthy examination of the Elizabethans' obsession with what we now call "New Age," featuring such topics as astrology, witchcraft, sorcery, and alchemy.
It is a truly entertaining book, filled with facts and "trivia," that makes the Elizabethan world come alive. Although some passages can be rather dense--it helps tremendously to have at least a basic knowledge of the major personalities--it is a must read for anyone interested in the Elizabethan period.
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Life in the Elizabethan Theater (The Way People Live)
Diane Yancey
Manufacturer: Lucent Books
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ASIN: 1560063432 |
Book Description
"Engaging and thorough . . . the best modern biography of the man. Why isn't there a great movie about Sir Walter Raleigh? His life had everything."
-Los Angeles Times
Tall, dark, handsome, and damnably proud, Sir Walter Raleigh was one of history's most romantic characters. He founded the first American colony, gave the Irish the potato, even trifled with the Virgin Queen's affections. To his enemies, he was an arrogant liar, deserving of every one of his thirteen years in the Tower of London. Regardless of means, Raleigh's accomplishments are unquestionable: he was the epitome of the English Renaissance man.
Raleigh Trevelyan has traveled to each of the principal places where Raleigh adventured-Ireland, the Azores, Roanoke, and the Orinoco-finding new insights into Raleigh's extraordinary life. His research gives a freshness and immediacy to this detailed, convincing portrait of one of the most compelling figures from the Elizabethan era.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book for Elizabethan fans.......2004-11-17
This book has compelled me to write my first ever review. I've rarely read a more enjoyable biography. Although long and very dense, it is well cross-referenced, and well structured.
The depth of research is astounding, and I was particularly impressed that the author had actually traveled to all the key locations, offering a level of colour and feel not otherwise possible.
There is also a great detail of content outside of Sir Walter's own life that is immensely valuable for providing context (so important when reading about another time and place). For this amateur Elizabethan student, the opportunity to read about my favourite characters and the key events of the age from a different perspective was truly enjoyable.
At times the book shows the author's bias, but he carefully lets us know when it's his opinion, and I for one welcomed it based on his depth of knowledge.
Bravo to the author, and to those considering reading this book, a big word of encouragement. Enjoy!
New insight - legend or fop?.......2004-09-21
It is recognized that the author as a descendant of Raleigh would be somewhat biased in his assessment of his subject. With this in mind the portrayal is more balanced than one would think from the preconception and the views of others on this book. The conception most often associated with Raleigh for those unaware of his breadth of activities is that of a dandily dressed (Vincent Price) fop who laid down his cape for the queen. If one delves a little farther into common knowledge we know that he had something to do with the failed Roanoke colony. The gift of Trevelyan's biography is to fill out these clothes. To put flesh upon the man who inhabits the foppish attire. By the time the book takes us to Raleigh's second stay in the Tower, and Trevelyan tells us that people often came to see "the legend" on his daily walks upon the wall, we believe that indeed he was exactly that - a legend. The true measure of biography is that it gives the faults and failings, yet lets one follow the maturing person. Raleigh, indeed had many failings, but he nonetheless comes across in Trevelyan's telling as a compelling and interesting individual. If the Queen, Cecil (Wm.), Walsingham, and Drake are the gods of that era, then certainly the Raleigh of Trevelyan's telling is a giant. The mark of good non-fiction is that it encourages further exploration into the era in which it is set. Trevelyan's book is a must read for those with any interest in this period of English history, particularly that touching on the rise of empire and the role of maritime successes.
Sir Walter the great.......2004-02-08
Sir Walter Raleigh was a little of everything. I read this book along with the new Benjamin Frankin: An American Life, and have determined that there's more to these guys than the scant information we were all given in school. What an eye-opener this book was. Well written, well researched, and well . . . just an overall entertaining good read. Highly recommended.
Also recommended: Benjamin Franklin and McCrae's Bark of the Dogwood
Average customer rating:
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The Idea of the City in the Age of Shakespeare
Gail Kern Paster
Manufacturer: Univ of Georgia Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0820307858 |
Book Description
One of history's greatest maritime adventure stories and its hero come to life in this enthralling new biography S ir Francis Drake: Pirate, explorer and zealot, a genius at once awe-inspiring and riddled with faults. He is the archetypal Elizabethan sea-dog, and Stephen Coote's brilliant new book rescues him from the dusty pages of history. With novelistic verve, Coote re-creates all the episodes that made Drake's reputation: The excitement and terror of the raids on Spanish Caribbean ports during his privateering days; the extraordinary feat of circumnavigation aboard the 'Golden Hind'; and Drake's role in the famous defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588.
Customer Reviews:
Drake: The Life and Legend of an Elizabethan Hero.......2007-07-19
Dr. Coote makes no attempt to conceal his virulent hatred of England, Queen Elizabeth I, Protestantism and Sir Francis Drake. He blithely skips over or ignores Drakes' triumphs and accomplishments, while expounding ad nauseum on Drake's minor foibles. Coote's obvious admiration for 16th century Spain, King Philip II and Catholicism is apparent, casting this despicable cabal as sympathetic; as if they were mere victims of unfortunate circumstance and the horrid depredations of Drake and the Protestant English. I removed the surprisingly commendable illustrations and threw the rest of the book in the garbage.
History novel and perfect prose all in one.......2006-07-22
Yes many books have been written about Sir Francis Drake the gentleman pirate, but here Mr. Coote blends them all together in a delightful creation of his, which not only details his adventures and crimes in a very objective while simultaneously engaging manner. It also disperses many myths about the nature of his relation with Elizabeth and even more, how his political knack and careful administration of his public persona managed to turn him into a National Hero, while hiding from view that his motivation for all its enduring quests was always the same, greed.
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Shakespeare's England: Life in Elizabethan and Jacobean Times
R.E. Pritchard
Manufacturer: Sutton Publishing
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Elizabeth's London: Everyday Life in Elizabethan London
ASIN: 0750932112 |
Book Description
This intriguing and fascinating collection of some of the best, wittiest and most unusual excerpts from sixteenth and seventeenth century writing.
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Elizabethan Jacobean Drama: The Theatre in Its Time
G. Evans
Manufacturer: New Amsterdam Books
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Binding: Hardcover
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Antonio's Revenge: John Marston (The Revels Plays)
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Playgoing in Shakespeare's London
ASIN: 0941533131 |
Book Description
Treats, through excerpts from contemporary opinion and official documents, various aspects of the little world of theatre in the full context of Elizabethan-Jacobean life and times.
Book Description
This book describes life in the England of Queen Elizabeth in terms of the concrete. Perhaps no Boroughport or Hollydean Hall can be discovered on the maps of the 1550's, but there were scores of towns and hundreds of rich manors in which the things discussed in this study were wholly typical. The Hollydeans were not wiser, more cultivated or better than a great many contemporaries among the wealthier gentry; the episodes laid in Boroughport could be duplicated in almost any chartered town near the seaboard.
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