Publisher:New York : Touchstone, 2010.
Edition:First Touchstone hardcover edition.
Copyright Date:©2008
ISBN:9781439112892
This book not only has a long title, but it is filled with fascinating information, and would truly act as a handbook for visitors just like its subtitle states.
Without a doubt living in the fourteenth century would be very difficult for someone from our century, in fact it is likely it would be close to impossible due to all the differences that we would have to adapt to, not to mention survive.
As Mr. Mortimer asks in his introduction: "What does the word 'medieval' conjure up in your mind? Knights and castles? Monk and abbeys? Hug tracts of forest in which outlaws live in defiance of the the law?"
If we are to believe many fiction books written about the fourteenth century then this might be quite true, however this is the Hollywood version of history. In reality life was a lot different and Mr. Mortimer goes into fantastic detail with regard to what life was actually like by giving examples of such things as: the landscape (what it really looked like), and the people (how did they live). He goes on to talk about what people wore, how they travelled, stayed while travelling, what they ate, their health, the law, etc.
This book would be an essential resource for any writer who is interested in bringing some reality to their stories, or any scholar who needs research material that is handily condensed into one volume.
The book has extensive notes, and an eight page bibliography.
I'm looking forward to reading his other works in the future: "The Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England" & "The Time Traveller's Guide to Restoration Britain: A handbook for Visitors to the Seventeenth Century, 1660-1700".
