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A review by jay_sy
Elizabeth's London: Everyday Life in Elizabethan London by Liza Picard
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.0
I enjoyed Elizabeth’s London by Liza Picard. It was informative and entertaining, though there were some chapters that were a little slow. The book gives an overview of the time period but doesn’t necessarily go into depth in particular topics.
I liked the use of a lot of primary sources. This might have been one of the most interesting aspects, just to see the language they used and the concerns they had.
There was also a lot of evocative imagery, such as the sheer amount of ferrymen and boatmen or things like the public toilets over Thames.
It was interesting learning how certain jobs were affected by the religious beliefs of the day, such as midwives duties to baptise and find out fathers of unwed married young women’s children so the church doesn’t have to pay. Or the nature of immigration in England (all the people from different places fleeing religious persecution and how they were unpopular because they didn’t follow local rules of trade). I liked reading about the laws that dictated what people could wear so that status would be more visible. Or the idea of gems used as prophylactics (eg. warding against the plague). It gives you an idea of where the idea of magic rings and such comes from in fantasy novels.
There were also the laws and licenses that allow people to eat meat (or for health), and how that affected people’s lives. Or the way that washing hands at the table together indicated closeness or social connection or flirtation. I also liked learning about the livery companies controlling various aspects of trade, and just how powerful their reach was.
It was also amusing to read of how easy it was to get married (making a promise with a parson nearby over dinner), and of banns being read to publicly indicate marriage. Also, I have a better understanding of why, during marriages, they ask if anyone know any reason they should not be wed, for example, if one party made a prior promise of marriage to another.
It was interesting to learn about prostitution and the desire for virgins and the use of lotion to feign virginity (plus the story of the boy who put it on his face and had his eyes and mouth sealed shut was hilarious). I was also giggling about the notion of pornographic sonnets that offended the pope.
But it was also depressing to hear details about the terrible treatment of animals (baiting bears with teeth removed, releasing rabbits on festival days for boys to chase, dog fights).
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would love to read something similar about other geographic locations.
I liked the use of a lot of primary sources. This might have been one of the most interesting aspects, just to see the language they used and the concerns they had.
It was interesting learning how certain jobs were affected by the religious beliefs of the day, such as midwives duties to baptise and find out fathers of unwed married young women’s children so the church doesn’t have to pay. Or the nature of immigration in England (all the people from different places fleeing religious persecution and how they were unpopular because they didn’t follow local rules of trade). I liked reading about the laws that dictated what people could wear so that status would be more visible. Or the idea of gems used as prophylactics (eg. warding against the plague). It gives you an idea of where the idea of magic rings and such comes from in fantasy novels.
There were also the laws and licenses that allow people to eat meat (or for health), and how that affected people’s lives. Or the way that washing hands at the table together indicated closeness or social connection or flirtation. I also liked learning about the livery companies controlling various aspects of trade, and just how powerful their reach was.
It was also amusing to read of how easy it was to get married (making a promise with a parson nearby over dinner), and of banns being read to publicly indicate marriage. Also, I have a better understanding of why, during marriages, they ask if anyone know any reason they should not be wed, for example, if one party made a prior promise of marriage to another.
It was interesting to learn about prostitution and the desire for virgins and the use of lotion to feign virginity (plus the story of the boy who put it on his face and had his eyes and mouth sealed shut was hilarious). I was also giggling about the notion of pornographic sonnets that offended the pope.
But it was also depressing to hear details about the terrible treatment of animals (baiting bears with teeth removed, releasing rabbits on festival days for boys to chase, dog fights).
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would love to read something similar about other geographic locations.