Mysteries of the Middle Ages: The Rise of Feminism, Science, and Art from the Cults of Catholic Europe

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All Over The Map

Better Items Available

Enjoyable overview of the Middle Ages & how they formed us

An Engaging Writer but Superficial and Wrongheaded History

Haven't finished reading it yet...too soon...

Mysteries of the Middle Ages: The Rise of Feminism, Science, and Art from the Cults of Catholic Europe
Thomas Cahill
Manufacturer: Nan A. Talese
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385495552
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Book Description

After the long period of cultural decline known as the Dark Ages, Europe experienced a rebirth of scholarship, art, literature, philosophy, and science and began to develop a vision of Western society that remains at the heart of Western civilization today.

By placing the image of the Virgin Mary at the center of their churches and their lives, medieval people exalted womanhood to a level unknown in any previous society. For the first time, men began to treat women with dignity and women took up professions that had always been closed to them.

The communion bread, believed to be the body of Jesus, encouraged the formulation of new questions in philosophy: Could reality be so fluid that one substance could be transformed into another? Could ordinary bread become a holy reality? Could mud become gold, as the alchemists believed? These new questions pushed the minds of medieval thinkers toward what would become modern science.

Artists began to ask themselves similar questions. How can we depict human anatomy so that it looks real to the viewer? How can we depict motion in a composition that never moves? How can two dimensions appear to be three? Medieval artists (and writers, too) invented the Western tradition of realism.

On visits to the great cities of Europe—monumental Rome; the intellectually explosive Paris of Peter Abelard and Thomas Aquinas; the hotbed of scientific study that was Oxford; and the incomparable Florence of Dante and Giotto—Cahill brilliantly captures the spirit of experimentation, the colorful pageantry, and the passionate pursuit of knowledge that built the foundations for the modern world. Bursting with stunning four-color art, MYSTERIES OF THE MIDDLE AGES is the ultimate Christmas gift book.

Customer Reviews:

All Over The Map.......2007-09-16

Maybe Cahill's a frustrated stand-up comic. Imagine the author as a stand-up inviting the audience to suggest topics for improvised comedic departure. Someone shouts out, "The Middle Ages!" and Cahill thinks, "Yeah. I can go with that." So we're off on tangent after tangent about Frank Zappa or Osama Bin Laden. Spare us the "cute" writing. Please.

Better Items Available.......2007-09-03

I agree with most of the negative reviewers of this product. The author is condescending and irritating. While he has a fine grasp of the English language, many of his conjectures are not only incorrect they are idiotic. His personal views, which he feels a need to share, detract from the story he is trying to tell in an unavoidable and irritating way. Stay away from this one.

Enjoyable overview of the Middle Ages & how they formed us.......2007-08-12

This is the fourth book in Cahill's "Hinges of History" series, and it is excellent. As others have pointed out it is not in-depth, not scholarly but rather written for people who don't usually read history. He makes it completly enjoyable, ties together main points, major movements, the pivotable people in a sort of quilt of moving shapes and colors that for a moment bring it all alive again. In this book famous and less famous people each are used to illustrate points about an era, and the changes that began in that era, and in fact that person may have been the one of powerhouses of the change, like Abelard, or Eleanor of Aquitaine, or simply a recorder or interpreter of it as Giotto was. Each fingernail sketch of a life in its unique era is memorable. Hildegarde of Bingen, at age 8, was given to the Church by her noble parents, to be interred as an anchorite, a life of complete sequestration, forever. Yet as she grew to adulthood the depth and breadth of her learning, taught to her in her little walled-in cell by a monk, grew to the point that her writings and correspondence was noted throughout Europe and even the Popes knew of her. She was perhaps the best known and best educated woman in Europe in her day and the most influential in the Roman Catholic Church. Made an abbess and allowed to preach and write openly she lived on to age 81, renowned and venerated. Eleanor of Aquitaine, the richest heiress in Europe at age 15, ruler of Aquitaine and other parts of France larger than the remaining lands of France itself was married first to the French king and went on Crusade with him, the first Noble woman known to do so; divorced him to marry her lover the much younger king of England; was the mother of several sons by him including Richard the Lion Hearted, her favorite...from her, most of the royalty of Europe descends. She was a strong, powerful,and free woman for most of her long life. The story of Heloise and Abelard, the great and tragic lovers is retold really well. Dante's story,his long exile due to the great wars of his native Florence and the feuding families at the root of it all reminds one of the Romeo and Juliet story: the "two houses"...But not to miss the point that each life discussed is tied in to a specific time and concept of an age different from us but leading toward us and our time. In fact, as the author points out, the events, the gradual change in thought-- never predetermined-- were how our era as it is now was formed; our way of seeing the world, our political, relgious, cultural and scientific, views were formed from theirs, our immediate cultural forebears.

An Engaging Writer but Superficial and Wrongheaded History.......2007-07-15

Though an engaging writer, Cahill is an appallingly bad historian. He compares the medieval nun Hildegard of Bingen to blues singer Bessie Smith (Hildegard's lyrics display a spiritualized eroticism) and the woman in bondage in The Story of O and refers to Desperate Housewives and Sex and the City in the same passage. ("This was one loose sister," is his characterization of Hildegard.) He compares Dante to James Joyce on the grounds that both were exiles infatuated with their mother cities. He characterizes WWI's Gallipoli as a "confrontation between ... Islam and the West," an appallingly bad summary of a complex military campaign which had little to do with religion and a great deal to do with military matters. Throughout the book, Cahill tramples history into a muddled paste of great figures and exalting moments, ignoring nuance or exception. He concludes with a five-page diatribe against sycophancy and buggery in today's Church. The footnotes don't inform much; the bibliography omits essential scholarship (e.g., R. W. Southern on medieval humanism, Roberto Lopez and Lauro Martines on Renaissance humanism). It is difficult to conceive of an audience that would benefit from reading this silly and superficial book.

Haven't finished reading it yet...too soon..........2007-07-05

but from the first page I have felt as though this is the easiest and most interesting way to experience history.

I don't believe anyone else can make reading & studying history such a pleasure. My method is to jot down notes on a small paper pad with the page number noted, so I can go back & make sure I have absorbed the links that have led to the future. There is such a stupendous wealth of detail.

I have all of Thomas Cahill's Hinges of History books so far and have never been disappointed yet.

Mary H.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

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Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Catherine, Called Birdy (rpkg) (Trophy Newbery)

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Quite the entertaining read
For the young an dyoung at heart
Catherine, Called Birdy
As I recall...
Catherine Called Birdy - - Bad or Good????

Catherine, Called Birdy (rpkg) (Trophy Newbery)
Karen Cushman
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064405842
Release Date: 2020-01-01

Book Description

"Corpus Bones! I utterly loathe my life."

Catherine feels trapped. Her father is determined to marry her off to arich man--any rich man, no matter how awful.

But by wit, trickery, and luck, Catherine manages to send several would-be husbands packing. Then a shaggy-bearded suitor from the north comes to call--by far the oldest, ugliest, most revolting suitor of them all.

Unfortunately, he is also the richest.

Can a sharp-tongued, high-spirited, clever young maiden with a mind of her own actually lose the battle against an ill-mannered, piglike lord and an unimaginative, greedy toad of a father?

Deus! Not if Catherine has anything to say about it!

Catherine feels trapped. Her father is determined to marry her off to a rich man--any rich man, no mater how awful.
But by wit, trickery, and luck, Catherine manages to send several would-be husbands packing. Then a shaggy-bearded suitor from the north comes to call--by far the oldest, ugliest, most revolting suitor of them all.
Unfortunately, he is also the richest.
Can a sharp-tongued, high-spirited, clever young maiden with a mind of her own actualy lose the battle against an ill-mannared, piglike lord and an unimaginative, greedy toad of a father?
Deus! Not if Catherine has anything to say about it!

Customer Reviews:

Quite the entertaining read.......2007-10-08

Karen Cushman has written a delightful literary work for young adults, providing a small and oftimes irreverent (but mostly true) glimpse of the Middle Ages. The protagonist, fourteen-year-old Catherine (nicknamed "Birdy" by her family members"), writes a chronicle of her day-to-day life in the year 1290, initially intending it solely for her adored brother Edward's eyes. Birdy writes of her daily activities (especially the loathed art of needlework), her family troubles (among which include her overbearing, abusive father and her gentle mother, who often gets with child only to miscarry), and her keen observations of the bawdy goings-on within the peasantry surrounding her father's manor.
Spirited and independent in a way that far decries the usual attitude of the women of the time, Birdy fights a constant battle with her "beast of a father" over the endless stream of suitors he sends her way in an attempt to marry her off and make a bit of money in the process. She manages to outwit several of them and send them packing--one of the most memorable incidents includes putting mouse-bones in her hair, blackening her teeth, and talking gibberish at the dinner table--but at last her father seems to have procured the most loathsome, leech-like suitor of them all, a man who is never named, but whom Birdy simply refers to as "Shaggy Beard." None of Birdy's brilliant attempts at scaring off this suitor seem to work. As the wedding day draws slowly nearer, Birdy becomes increasingly desperate, a feeling remarkably and painfully tangible in her writing as the novel nears its sweet and satisfying finish.
At times heartrendingly accurate and sincerely honest, at times laugh-out-loud funny, Birdy's "diary" is a wonderful way for young adults to immerse themselves in the rich history of the Middle Ages. The few sexual references Birdy makes are purely observatory, largely comical and tongue-in-cheek, not at all a cause for concern among parents, and while these references are humorously obvious to the older spectrum of young adult readers, much younger readers might not even make a connection.
All in all, it's definitely worth a read. Even when afflicted with a pounding headache, I couldn't put it down. I can only imagine the appeal it might have to a reader much younger than myself.

For the young an dyoung at heart.......2007-09-29

This diary of a 14-year-old in 13th century England reads smoothly and believably, not an easy task when trying to recreate the inner thoughts of a young adult from a strange culture. Ms. Cushman writes so that a young adult can empathize with with Birdy, and an older adult can remember their own angst at a similar age. (Humorously for me. I broke out laughing in several places.)

Catherine, Called Birdy.......2007-09-02

This lively tale, told from the point of view of a young girl named Catherine, is a diary format that will appeal to many readers. I tend to think that girls will enjoy this story more than boys, due to the main character being a girl. Set in the, "Year of our Lord 1290" we can follow the daily life and times of Catherine, who is of middle wealth in old England. Students who are studying about this time period would be greatly attracted to this novel. It is easy to read and has many stories that bring to life what it might have been like for a young girl at this time period. Catherine is outspoken (often slapped and sent to her room), energetic (dresses up like a villager to play in the mud), daring (walks on foot for 2 days to reach her cousin George's home in York), caring (uses her last money to buy a bear to keep it from being slaughtered), loves to read and paint, eccentric (keeps 10 birds in her room for the company), and most of all, bound and determined to not be married off due to the whim and greed of her father. She may not be an average girl of the times, but as the readers, we certainly get an authentic feel for the times. While reading this story, I was often dismayed by the food descriptions; swan's neck pudding and eel pie! A good comparison activity of how different foods are acceptable to different people at different times. I enjoyed Catherine's relationship with all the characters in the story, and learned at a lot about a country manor and how it was run in 1290. Catherine is ingenious in developing ways to run off prospective suitors, in the end, her trap becomes her savior. The man she was supposed to marry dies, and she is instead given to the son, who has the strange habit of reading and bathing with regular frequency. That which she was avoided all through the book becomes her best way of escaping her father, and growing to live her own life with a man who may just accept her for herself.

As I recall..........2007-08-27

I had to read this in 3rd or 4th grade. I recall finding it rather boring. I struggled through it. Perhaps I would enjoy it more now.

Catherine Called Birdy - - Bad or Good????.......2007-05-23

ok, this book is good AND bad. Birdy (Catherine) is a brat living in Mid evil England. She is very much a tomboy. Her Father, referred to often as The "Beast" is determined to marry her off to the "highest bidder" With her quick thinking she manages to get rid of most of the suitors. However, the one she cannot get rid of is the worst by far. I don't want to give it away, but Birdy makes a heart breaking decision to save a bear, which is stupid in my opinion.

This book is written in journal form. It includes the dates of saints. It also tells a lot of mid evil medicine. The over all plot is pretty good, because it explains the life and perils of the average teenager living in the 13th century. However, it is a bit exaggerated. Girls in that time would not fart, spit, burp, or be allowed to ask questions and say things like wanting to be in a crusade. Also, she would be in big trouble for lighting a suitor on fire, because in the book she is merely spoken to. I recommend this book for kids about 12 years old. If your much older it'll seem stupid (trust me!!!!) and much younger it won't make much sense. (trust me!!!!) Overall, though it was o.k., I'd have to say it was more bad than good.

Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England

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Isabella:Treachey,Adultrey, and Murder inMedieval England
2.5 stars
The Fourteenth Century comes alive
Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England
Fourteenth Century Revolutionary or Shrewd Businesswoman?

Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England
Alison Weir
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345453204
Release Date: 2006-12-26

Book Description

Isabella arrived in London in 1308, the spirited twelve-year-old daughter of King Philip IV of France. Her marriage to the heir to England’s throne was designed to heal old political wounds between the two countries, and in the years that followed, she would become an important figure, a determined and clever woman whose influence would come to last centuries. But Queen Isabella’s political machinations led generations of historians to malign her, earning her a reputation as a ruthless schemer and an odious nickname, “the She-Wolf of France.”

Now the acclaimed author of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Alison Weir, reexamines the life of Isabella of England, history’s other notorious and charismatic medieval queen. Praised for her fair looks, the newly wed Isabella was denied the attentions of Edward II, a weak, sexually ambiguous monarch with scant taste for his royal duties. As their marriage progressed, Isabella was neglected by her dissolute husband and slighted by his favored male courtiers. Humiliated and deprived of her income, her children, and her liberty, Isabella escaped to France, where she entered into a passionate affair with Edward II’s mortal enemy, Roger Mortimer. Together, Isabella and Mortimer led the only successful invasion of English soil since the Norman Conquest of 1066, deposing Edward and ruling in his stead as co-regents for Isabella’s young son, Edward III. Fate, however, was soon to catch up with Isabella and her lover.

Many mysteries and legends have been woven around Isabella’s story. She was long condemned as an accessory to Edward II’s brutal murder in 1327, but recent research has cast doubt on whether that murder even took place.

Isabella’s reputation, then, rests largely on the prejudices of monkish chroniclers and prudish Victorian scholars. Here Alison Weir gives a startling, groundbreaking new perspective on Isabella, in this first full biography in more than 150 years. In a work of extraordinary original research, Weir effectively strips away centuries of propaganda, legend, and romantic myth, and reveals a truly remarkable woman who had a profound influence upon the age in which she lived and the history of western Europe.

Engaging, vibrant, alive with breathtaking detail and unforgettable characters, Queen Isabella is biographical history at its finest.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Isabella:Treachey,Adultrey, and Murder inMedieval England.......2007-10-11

Alison Weir has written an exciting and insightful biography about a much maligned Queen. Her reseach and documentation are impeccable. I found myself bound to this book, I could not put it down. Ms.Weir has once again made history live for me.

2.5 stars.......2007-10-08

As always, Alison Weir has written an easy-to-read, interesting piece of popular history that engages its reader. The writing style is crisp and well-written. Her facts are for the most part great, certainly better than some writing in this period. But it's the interpretation of the facts that tend to bother me here. I was unimpressed with Weir's consistent vindication of Isabella-as-a-much-wronged-victim(which seems to be popular these days) and the use of this as "justification" later on.

For one, I was bothered by Weir's frequent referencing of Isabella's "mistreatment" and "abandonment". As if Medieval women expected anything less. Women in Isabella's position were quite frequently, if not usually, ignored in favor of mistresses, placed second to council, kept from their children, and subject to their husband's every whim. This does not make it right, of course, but it's not as if people would expect much less. And in fact, many a time Edward was very good to Isabella, letting her drastically overspend, he is said to have only reproached her once. I find it interesting that when she was in France cavorting with Mortimer that Edward had the legal right to kill her, he could have sent people to beat the snot out of her, and yet he did not. I believe this says a great deal about his character. But I digress.

Another thing I was annoyed with was Weir's attitudes towards homosexuality. I recall her using the word "perverted" more than once(and in a way that was reflecting more her beliefs than society at the time's). And some pretty sharp double edged swords were being thrown here. When Edward is influenced by one of his advisers-likely lovers-it's a perverted hold and means he is weak and a horrible King. But when Isabella in 1527-1530 lets Mortimer take the reigns(allegedly), it's just because of her feelings for him and we should only blame her a bit.

I'm definitely not convinced at this portrayal of Isabella. Weir-grudgingly-admits to a bit of ruthlessness in her character before amping up her much vaunted "good qualities"(all which require coaching out of their shells) and blaming whatever man is handy at the time. Her greed and power-hungriness is skimmed in a paragraph, while the Despensers and Edward get a whole chapter dedicated to their(admittedly excessive) expenditures, and it's never mentioned that Isabella's were much worse! Isabella was certainly a force to be reckoned with-head strong, intelligent, courageous-yet no matter how hard you press that it was justified, a woman who watches a man she knew being slit from top to bottom, howling along the way, slowly dying, and throw a party afterward is not a delicate little flower. A mother who would refuse her children one last time to see their beloved father can hardly be called kind-hearted. And yet Weir would have us believe she is just a gentle little bookworm, doe-souled mother who was just getting her rightful little revenge.

Not to say I loathed this book. I'm a fan of Weir's style, even if I disagree utterly with the conclusions she comes to. The three parts ("Isabella and Edward", "Isabella and Mortimer", "Isabella") were well divided, and the chapters within were interesting(I'm curious where many of the quotes came from at the beginning of each, Shakespeare, perhaps?). Like in all of her biographies, Weir has a chapter dedicated to the styling of the household at the time, equipped with Castle descriptions, employees of the subject, their day-to-day life-I tend to enjoy this chapter the most in her books(her "King and Court" book on Henry VIII is written in roughly half of this style, if anyone is interested). I did feel some sympathy for Isabella in many places, and I didn't feel Weir was ridiculous with the assertions she made to help clear Isabella's name(although her Edward II survival story sounded alarmingly fictitious, however, she never states it as concrete fact, so I was entertained.)

Overall, I would recommend this book not as a starting point, but for one who is reasonably schooled in this era of history.

The Fourteenth Century comes alive.......2007-06-15

Vivid and compelling depiction of an often maligned historical figure who emerges as much more complex and sympathetic than usual in histories of the period.

Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England.......2007-03-09

Excellent writing and a mesmerizing story: in-depth research and character-development creates an historical setting that involves the reader.

Fourteenth Century Revolutionary or Shrewd Businesswoman?.......2007-02-04

This is the best of the Alison Weir books I have read, and the others are 5 star books as well. The beginning part develops the characters, the later part is more reportorial. Weir concludes with a summary of Isabella's role as a revolutionary.

Isabella clearly defied the narrow female role of her times, but her revolutionary role, in my view, was accidental. It was not the confiscation of land of the nobles, nor the suspension of habeas corpus that motivated her, it was the suspension of her revenues and it seems to a lesser extent, her forced separation from the crown prince.

She was clever in "networking" with the many who had grievances against Edward II, and wise in her pardoning her adversaries and paying her supporters. Weir guides us towards blaming Mortimer for the re-institution of conficatory policies. I'm not convinced. As a woman in this time, Isabella surely needed male support and advice. Perhaps he steered in the directions she wanted to go.

Medieval England is barbarous, in many ways. The descriptions of the hangings anesthetize the reader to the ultimate burial of Isabella.

There are incisive descriptions of the relationships with Scotland, France and other continental courts, and the church. These narratives contribute to making the book more than just a good read for the lay reader.

Four Queens: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe

Average customer rating:

Poor depiction of medieval history
THE FORGOTTEN TALE OF FOUR REMARKABLE MEDIEVAL WOMEN
Wanted to like this one but....
A sloppily written and very bad book
Excellent

Four Queens: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe
Nancy Goldstone
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0670038431
Release Date: 2007-04-19

Book Description

Four accomplished sisters who rose from near obscurity to become the most powerful women in Europe

Set against the backdrop of the turbulent thirteenth century, a time of chivalry and crusades, poetry, knights, and monarchs comes the story of the four beautiful daughters of the count of Provence whose brilliant marriages made them the queens of France, England, Germany, and Sicily.

From a cultured childhood in Provence, each sister was propelled into a world marked by shifting alliances, intrigue, and subterfuge. Marguerite, the eldest, whose resolution and spirit would be tested by the cold splendor of the Palais du Roi in Paris; Eleanor, whose soaring political aspirations would provoke her kingdom to civil war; Sanchia, the neglected wife of the richest man in England who bought himself the crown of Germany; and Beatrice, whose desire for sovereignty was so acute that she risked her life to earn her place at the royal table.

A compulsively readable narrative, Four Queens shatters the myth that women were helpless pawns in a society that celebrated physical prowess and masculine intellect. A riveting historical saga for fans of Alison Weir and Antonia Fraser.

Customer Reviews:

Poor depiction of medieval history.......2007-08-25

Ms. Goldstone omits a lot of facts from medieval history, particularly surrounding the canonization of Louis IX, his first crusades, his father's relationships with the English king, and the role all 4 sisters played in the political, economic and cultural life of their country. She also does not provide the reasons why Marguerite refused to support the canonization in the first place. She hs completely omitted the relationship between Sanchia and her elder sisters. Sanchia was treated the same way as her younger sister Beatrice, belittled and humiliated because she was not a queen while her sisters were. She fills in the blanks by putting names of relatives, w/o really explaining their roles in history and their influence on the affairs of France, England, Sicily, Provence, etc. After reading each chapter, I constantly wanted to ask "So what?" What was the influence on Boniface of Savoy, Thomas of Savoy and Beatrice of Savoy on the affairs of her daughters' kingdoms? Did they bring any reforms, what was their relationship with the Church? This "dump" of insignificant information makes the book very hard to read. It's overwhelmed with names but lacks explanation of their roles in the lives of the 4 queens and their impact on the history of France, England, etc.

She has failed to explain the kings' relationships with their vassals, There is no mention of the state both King Louis and King Henry have inherited their respective kingdoms. No mention of their relationships with the Parliament or Magna Carta, etc. She has failed to even mention the role of Templars in the Crusades!!!

Ms. Goldstone'language and the choice of words is rather poor, leaving the book disorganized and its chapters badly written. Her constant quoting of Matthew Paris and, sometimes, of Joinville, left me wondering if she has encountered any other contemporaries' notes in her search, for there are plenty.

In the back of the book, Ms. Goldstone mentions sources she used while writing her book. Her detailed description of each source made me wonder if she knew she was unprepared or was lacking enough references, thus making her write explanations of who said-when-what-how-why is this important to mention.

I realize that not everyone has a Ph.D. in history and the lack of it should not prevent individuals from writing a fine narrative piece on a historical topic. However, when you write it - do it like a professional, invest time in your research, learn your subjects/main actors. Otherwise, you will sound like an unprepared middle-school student, who pretends to act like historian.

THE FORGOTTEN TALE OF FOUR REMARKABLE MEDIEVAL WOMEN.......2007-06-05

Historians have long ignored or understated the contributions of women so Nancy Goldstone's FOUR QUEENS, the previously untold story of four 13th century sisters who rose from minor nobility in Provence to become queens of France, England, Sicily and Germany, comes as welcome and long-awaited relief. Marguerite, married at just 13 to Louis XI of France, stood her own in a court dominated by her powerful mother-in-law, Blanche of Castile, and ultimately led her husband and his army home from a disastrous Arabian crusade. Eleanor, wife to the ineffectual Henry III of England, deftly played-off rebellious barons and craftily preserved the throne for her son in spite of the civil war she helped ignite. Beautiful and gentle Sanchia married Richard of Cornwall, the richest man in Europe who effectively purchased the Kingdom of Germany. Feisty young Beatrice, wed to Charles of Anjou, led an army through the Italian alps in her determination to saved her besieged husband and secure him the Sicilian throne. Praised by eminent Princeton historian Theodore K. Rabb as "deeply researched," FOUR QUEENS is written with a light and accessible touch, equally at home on the shelf of the serious scholar as it would be on the nightstand of a harried mom who wants a few pages of intellectual stimulation before falling into bed. Brava!

Wanted to like this one but...........2007-06-04

she continually overemphasizes the political roles of the four daughters of Raymond Berenger V, the Count of Provence, and as a genuine medievalist, she should know better.

A sloppily written and very bad book.......2007-06-03

This is an extremely sloppily written and bad book. It is written in the childish style that some popular historians seem to find it necessary to adopt because they think their audience is too stupid to understand anything else - usually an underestimation of said audience. Moreover, the author has clearly not bothered to do any form of basic research to get her facts right. To take but a few examples: In chapter 7, we are told about Richard of Cornwall's crusade in 1240. He is said to have met Emperor Baldwin II of Constantinople "who had lost his empire" (p74). Actually, the Latin Empire of Constantinople (Baldwin's empire) was around until 1261, which is when he lost it. Three pages later, we are told that "The French, too, had sent an army to retake Jerusalem only the year before," in other words in 1239. Retake from whom? Jerusalem was in Christian hands from 1227 to 1244. She also seems to have no idea of the relative importance of the Kingdom of Sicily within the domains of the Holy Roman Emperor. At this stage, less than a third through the book, I gave up, rather than waste any more time on such rubbish. Zero stars would be a better rating.

Excellent.......2007-06-02

I didn't know much of the story of the Provence sisters, but this filled that knowledge gap. For people interested in the Middle Ages as more than just the time between the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, this is a valuable resource. For people interested in powerful families, you can't go wrong with four sisters who all become queens! Excellent book!

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Rashi's Daughters, Book 1: Joheved
Rashi's Daughters - Joheved
No title
Solving the Puzzle of Talmud from a Woman's Viewpoint
A good Book that should be better

Rashi's Daughters, Book 1: Joheved
Maggie Anton
Manufacturer: Banot Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0976305054
Release Date: 2005-01-01

Book Description

Rashi, one of the greatest Jewish scholars who ever lived, had no sons, only three daughters. Much has been written about Rashi and his grandsons, the Tosafot, but almost nothing of his daughters. Legend has it that they were learned in a time when women were forbidden to study the sacred texts. Rashi's Daughters tells the story of these forgotten women.

Customer Reviews:

Rashi's Daughters, Book 1: Joheved.......2007-07-14

Book One of Rashi's Daughters focuses on Joheved, the eldest of Rashi's children. Salomon ben Isaac (later called Rashi in the historical records) was one of the greatest Talmudic authorities that ever lived. He lived and taught the Talmud in the 11th century in Troyes. Like most scholars of his time, Rashi's students included local Jews, future scholars, and merchants trading in the area. However, at a time when basic education for women was extremely rare and the teaching of the Tadmud to a woman was beyond rational thought, Rashi also counted his daughters amongst his most learned students.

Joheved was the oldest of Rashi's daughters. In her own right, she was an amazing woman. She ran the family winery including the vine tending of the vines, bookkeeping, and the financial negotiations with other merchants. She also took on the care of her ailing paternal grandmother, an extremely strong willed woman who had taught Joheved everything about the wine making business. Joheved also served as a loving respectful wife, daughter, and sister. In addition to these fine qualities, Joheved had a love of learning, a thirst for knowledge, a deep devotion to her faith. It was these later qualities, and the fact that Rashi bore no sons, that Joheved was given the very unique opportunity to study the Talmud with her father.

Book One of Rashi's Daughters is a wonderful book that allows the reader to travel back to the 11th century to visit Rashi, his family, and his friends. The author has obviously done a good deal of research and this effort shows in the every word the characters utter, each activity that they undertake, and the way that each of these individuals perceives the world. Beyond these carefully crafted historical accuracies, though, the author has also created an entertaining story that captivates and inspires. After I started reading this book, I found it impossible to put down. I was completely drawn into the story and left the book with the feeling of having had the most amazing visit with a close friend. I eagerly await Book Two.

Rashi's Daughters - Joheved.......2007-07-01

This book, without exception, is the most enjoyable reading experience. Is has it all. Great characterization and outstanding writing. Would like to see it become a movie. Waiting for Maggie's next two. A great book club selection.

No title.......2007-06-14

I love the book! I think Maggie Anton did a great research on this subject.

Solving the Puzzle of Talmud from a Woman's Viewpoint.......2007-04-19

Rashi's Daughter: Johebed by Maggie Anton

Book Review by Arthur L. Finkle

Solving the Puzzle of Talmud from a Woman's Viewpoint

As a long-time educator, I am always on the lookout for the better mousetrap. If you want to learn the rudiments and then some, Rashi's Daughter is just the right fit. A historical novel, Ms. Anton demonstrates many cultural understandings of one of the most famous of the Jewish commentators of the Bible and Talmud.

The background is 11th century France, where Rabbi Shlomo ben Yitzchak (Rashi) lives, interprets and acts in his role of father to three daughters. Not having sons, he indulges his daughters, the oldest of whom (Johebed) wants to make the most of her inquiring mind. She knows Bible. Now, unlike the preponderance of women of her day, she wants to learn Talmud.

Rashi, seeing that Johebed truly thirsts for knowledge of Talmud, begins to teach her in a Tractate in which she is interested. Thereupon, he builds upon this start.

The reaction of his other daughters and his wife is interesting but probably true. Rashi's wife believes that Johebed ought to learn the domestic side of womanhood rather than "wasting" her time building upon a mind that will not be used in Jewish scholarship. So attuned is the medieval culture, that Johebed sisters also do not see what use such scholarship is. Moreover, they fear that a stigma will attached to their own marriage prospects.

Ms. Anton develops Johebed's character in small increments, including the ambivalence she experiences in disappointing the female side of her immediate family and yet reveling in the study of Talmud. This study is generally not about the content of the tractate; rather, it is the process of Rabbinical thinking in order to make rulings about Jewish law, which, generally, governs Jewish life. Such scholarship requires not only a retentive mind but also a reasoning ability not possessed by all. Indeed, although there was universal education in the Jewish communities since the 1st century BCE, fewer than ten of one hundred went on to study Talmud. Johebed is not only in this classification but, in helping other students with their Talmud studies, is actually mentoring male students of Rashi.

My Novel Group found that the amount of superstition played a great part in the French Jewish community. They also were impressed that the roles of men and women were so defined by the 11th century. Moreover, the comity between Jewish and Christian was an unexpected benefit. Even the local Christian scholars asked Rashi to interpret the Hebrew Scriptures for them.

Maggie Anton has published a superior book. To be followed by the stories Johebed's two other sisters. Reading such entertaining prose demonstrates the Talmudic process; French medieval living conditions; the role of women; and the special role of the eldest daughter of this Jewish intellectual giant.

As a teacher, I found that Rashi's Daughter: Johebed, explained the Talmudic process in a way that most people could understand. The explanation of the Hebrew Scriptures in terms of law, values, adages and cultural habits appear in the Mishnah, codified in 200 CE. Then, the scholar studies commentary on the Mishnah, i.e., the Talmud.

Then there is something that is extremely difficult to explain to the laity, that is, that process is more important than the content. Further, there has to be total rationality for all 63 Talmudic tractates. And the lesson preparation is often difficult.

A good Book that should be better.......2007-03-17

This is an interesting telling of the lifestyle of Jews at the end of the first millennium CE, in France. It describes some of the life of the scholar Rashi but is primarily about the early years of his daughter Yochoved, the details of which must be fictional. Customs of the times are given and raise many questions. Hidden in its pages is an appeal for early feminism. While it was good reading, in retrospect I think it is rather shallow. Much is glossed over or skipped entirely. For example, the role of Rashi's wife, and of other women, is almost entirely as child bearers. There is only one reference to the Crusades, occurring at that time. Some of Rashi's interpretations and decisions are given but not with the background for his reasoning. Another volume about his second daughter, Miriam, is about to be released. I was left with no desire to pursue it.

The Sempster's Tale (Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries)

Average customer rating:

Excellent story, but small points of historical acuracy can be debated
Another enjoyable tale!
Response to Mae "mes 2000"
Another excellent tale!
An engrossing novel with the ring of reality

The Sempster's Tale (Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries)
Margaret Frazer
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425210499

Book Description

Dame Frevisse is in London to recover gold from the coffers of the murdered Duke of Suffolk and give it to her cousin. Frevisse's co-conspirators in this secrecy are seamstress Anne Blakehall and her lover, a Jewish trader smuggling the gold through Anne's shop. But their mission is jeopardized when a crucified body is discovered, supposedly scarred with Hebrew letters, stirring up anti-Semitic sentiment in the populace.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent story, but small points of historical acuracy can be debated.......2007-03-29

The Dame Frevisse mystery series has been excellent as a whole, and this is one of its more engrossing books. However, it is a bit different from most of the series. As other reviews have noted, it's the characters and the historical background of London in 1450 that are center stage while the mystery is less so than in most of Frazer's stories. This does not make the book any less good or entertaining, it just means that it straddles the line between mystery and historical novel a bit more than her other books.

As for the historical acuracy, Frazer has proven herself to be very good at giving us glimpses into the world of 15th century England. She does so again, in general, but does have a few points that could be questioned in her address of the Jewish theme of the book. Another reviewer has already noted the possibility of error on Frazer's use of "Challah" to describe the sabbath bread and the shape used, and I do not profess to be a scholar of Jewish food, so I will not comment on the accuracy of this one, although I was disturbed that Frazer responded so negatively without citing her sources. At least the review did so, even if he or she was incorrect. However, I AM a scholar of medieval Iberia and I was disturbed by one small fact that Frazer used in giving the background of Brother Michael at the beginning of Chapter 11. She has the character say that he was born in "Antwerp. Where my parents went after being forced from Portugal." Frazer also goes on to have him discuss conversos, those Jews who converted to Christianity, being sought by the Inquisition in Spain. First of all, Jews were not expelled from Spain until 1492 and from Portugal until 1497, more than 40 years after the story takes place, and probably a great deal more after the character's parents would have left Portugal. It is true that Jews faced anti-semitism in medieval Iberia (Jews in Portugal did have to wear special garments and obey a curfew in the first few decades of the 15th century) but during the early 15th century it was not necessarily any worse in Portugal than in the rest of Europe. After all, Frazer herself points out that the Jews had been expelled from England long before the story. As for the Spanish Inquisition, it did not start actively persecuting the Spanish Conversos until around 1480 or so. The Inquisition actually began with a concern more for Christian heretics than for Jews, and when it did begin to address Jews, many of the first cases are found in France, not Spain.

All of this is not meant to show that Frazer is a bad writer OR researcher, just a request that if she receives criticism from someone like the reviewer mentioning challah or myself, and if she would like to respond, that she give some of her sources or reasons for using the disputed information. Perhaps she knew that the Jews were expelled from Portugal later and that the Spanish Inquisition had not started its terrible reign in Spain in the earliest part of the 15th century, but wanted to use those points as plot devises anyway. And the use of challah bread was fascinating in the story whether or not someone like Frevisse could have known it by that name in Enland before 1450.

I am still a huge fan of Frazers writing and mysteries and will continue to read her work.

Another enjoyable tale!.......2007-02-22

Margaret Frazer's Sister Frevisse series is a total winner for those who enjoy medieval mysteries like I do. I did read this one out of sequence a bit since I got the latest title "A Traitor's Tale" first. This book covers the summer of 1450 and Sister Frevisse is in London on yet another task for her relative, the Duchess of Suffolk. It was during this summer that Henry VI of England's popularity was at its lowest, and it is when a revolt led by Jack Cade tried to take London away from the Crown. Dame Frevisse is dragged into murder and mayhem, and she finds herself caught in the home of a middle class merchant while all of London is in a uproar. Ms. Frazer's tale is about love, deceptions, treacheries, greed and fear. And it's about how Sister Frevisse keeps her own sanity amongst all the turmoil. As always the historical detail is painstakingly accurate, and the characters are three-dimesional living, breathing people. And Dame Frevisse is a marvel! We also see what it was like for a Jew to live in an anti-Semetic world. Do not miss this series!

Response to Mae "mes 2000".......2007-02-11

From the author -- I remember all too well when I was far too arrogant in my ignorance, and therefore trust that Mae will some day outgrow her belief that a general survey book (about food or anything else)provides sufficient knowledge on which to base criticism. I'm afraid that her comments on my research show her own lack of in-depth research, rather than mine. The situation for Jews in late medieval Europe was in flux, not yet solidified into the ghettos of Eastern Europe. What became true about Jewish life in later centuries was not necessarily true in the 1400s. The Sempster's Tale reflects the complex realities and attitudes of the time, and I consulted with a Jewish scholar about them. Among other things, the debate between Brother Michael and Daved is taken directly from contemporary arguments, not modern attitudes. As for challah, it's history is far older than the late 15th century, whatever a general survey of food may say.

Another excellent tale!.......2007-02-04

Perhaps the Frevisse mysteries have historical inaccuracies, particularly regarding the Jewish traditions, but we can forgive them. The excellence of the characters' interaction and pure joy of reading a superbly crafted book makes all else pale. In this book, Frevisse is the unwilling carrier of a fortune in gold for her cousin, Alice, after the death of Alice's husband. So Frevisse must travel to London, a London unlike the one previously described in novels, a London more civilized and clean than we had been led to believe in the past.

The story is well-done and the mystery not so mysterious that we do not know who the killer is early on, but we don't care. The interaction between the various characters is so fantastically presented that the mystery is simply a secondary issue, albeit interesting because it presents the motivations of people who kill through history.

Do not miss this book if you enjoy fine writing and historical mysteries.

An engrossing novel with the ring of reality.......2006-10-08

Margaret Frazer's The Sempster's Tale is a work showing the continuing creative power of the author. I have read some earlier works, and this seems to me to be the best yet of those that I have read.

For one thing, the historical context gives a ring of reality to the work. I remember when the author--so many years ago--showed me a notebook with day by day events of the period in England. This historical verisimilitude produces an atmosphere in these Dame Frevisse novels that "rings true." The author's homework has richly paid off. I think that this in itself sets the Dame Frevisse series apart from other works.

This book focuses on events in the 15th century. The King, not a very effectual figure, has fled the city of London as William Cade and his commoners try to assert themselves. In this turbulent situation, Dame Frevisse must get "vestments"--and gold--for her cousin, Lady Alice, whose husband has recently died. The seamstress (or sempster, as the term was used at the time), Anne, was engaged in an affair with a Jewish merchant, Daved, when Jews had been expelled from England. She works with Dame Frevisse to carry out the mission. Two murders ensue, the first suggesting that Jews were the perpetrators. The second implicates Daved. Dame Frevisse, with the assistance of Daved, works the mystery through to determine who was guilty.

All in all, the novel is very much worth reading. The atmosphere has a ring of reality; the characters are well drawn; the pace moves along nicely. For those interested in this period of English history, the book provides a sense of the era. That itself is reason enough to read this volume. Add to this the characters and the plot and these render the novel even more estimable.

Gender, Domesticity, and the Age of Augustus: Inventing Private Life (Oxford Studies in Classical Literature and Gender Theory)

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Gender, Domesticity, and the Age of Augustus: Inventing Private Life (Oxford Studies in Classical Literature and Gender Theory)
Kristina Milnor
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0199280827

Book Description

The age of Augustus has long been recognized as a time when the Roman state put a new emphasis on `traditional' feminine domestic ideals, yet at the same time gave real public prominence to certain women in their roles as wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters. Kristina Milnor takes up a series of texts and their contexts in order to explore this paradox. Through an examination of authors such as Vitruvius, Livy, Valerius Maximus, Seneca the Elder, and Columella, she argues that female domesticity was both a principle and a problem for early imperial writers, as they sought to construct a new definition of who and what constituted Roman public life.

Sexuality and Gender in the Classical World: Readings and Sources (Interpreting Ancient History)

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Sexuality and Gender in the Classical World: Readings and Sources (Interpreting Ancient History)

Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishing Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0631225897

Book Description

This book explores the fascinating world of sex and gender roles in the classical period. It provides readers with essays that represent a range of perspectives on women, gender and sexuality in the ancient world. They are accessible to general readers whilst also challenging them to confront problems of evidence and interpretation, new theories and methodologies, and contemporary assumptions about gender and sexuality.The essays cover a broad spectrum of scholarly perspectives, and trace the debates and themes of the field from the late 1960s to the late 1990s. They also address a range of literary and non-literary genres, including some non-canonical sources such as medical writings and inscriptions, to elucidate ancient ideas about sexuality and the discourses that shaped these ideas. The book also provides translations of primary sources to enable readers to confront the evidence for themselves and assess the methodology used by historians. It includes Greek literature and society, Roman culture and the legacy of classical myth for modern feminist scholars. It includes and examines not only women in antiquity but also masculinity and sexuality to provide a comprehensive account of this fascinating topic.

The Midwife's Apprentice (rpkg) (Trophy Newbery)

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Mid Wife's Apprentice
The Midwife's Apprentice Review by Markie Ray
Middle Ages Medicine
A GREAT HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK TO READ!
The Midwife's apprentice.

The Midwife's Apprentice (rpkg) (Trophy Newbery)
Karen Cushman
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 006440630X
Release Date: 2020-01-01

Amazon.com

Karen Cushman likes to write with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek, and her feisty female characters firmly planted in history. In The Midwife's Apprentice, which earned the 1996 Newbery Medal, this makes a winning combination for children and adult readers alike. Like her award-winning book Catherine, Called Birdy, the story takes place in medieval England. This time our protagonist is Alyce, who rises from the dung heap (literally) of homelessness and namelessness to find a station in life--apprentice to the crotchety, snaggletoothed midwife Jane Sharp. On Alyce's first solo outing as a midwife, she fails to deliver. Instead of facing her ignorance, Alyce chooses to run from failure--never a good choice. Disappointingly, Cushman does not offer any hardships or internal wrestling to warrant Alyce's final epiphanies, and one of the book's climactic insights is when Alyce discovers that lo and behold she is actually pretty! Still, Cushman redeems her writing, as always, with historical accuracy, saucy dialogue, fast-paced action, and plucky, original characters that older readers will eagerly devour. (Ages 12 and older) --Gail Hudson

Book Description

'Like Cushman's 1995 Newbery Honor Book, Catherine, Called Birdy, this novel is about a strong young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. This is a world, like Chaucer's, that's . . . dangerous, primitive and raucous. From the first page you're caught by the spirit of the homeless, nameless waif, somewhere around 12 years old. She gets the village midwife to take her in, befriends a cat, names herself Alyce, and learns something about delivering babies. When she fails, she runs away, but she picks herself up again and returns to work and independence.' --ALA Booklist (starred review). '. . .A fascinating view of a far distant time.' -- The Horn Book (starred review)

Customer Reviews:

Mid Wife's Apprentice .......2007-10-09

The time period and setting is very interesting. The acting in the audiobook is top knotch with great accents and realism. This exciting story is for adults too and I can see why it won an important award.
You will be entertained and even learn something new. I listened to it on a business trip and really liked the way it was performed. Just a wonderful story of triumph and learning.

The Midwife's Apprentice Review by Markie Ray.......2007-09-10

If you want a book that will make you sit down and make you read it again and again, this is the book for you. The Midwifes Apprentice by Karen Cushmen explains the life of a girl who has no home and becomes a midwife's apprentice. To begin, Brat is homeless and barely alive. She goes from village to village stealing what she needs, but nothing more. After that, the midwife took her in. Brat becomes her apprentice and is paid by being fed and to sleep in a warm place. Lastly brat, now known as Alyce, learns a valuable lesson. She learns never to give up and to try, try, try again. As you can see, The Midwifes Apprentice is a great book and it also teaches many lessons. So read this book to find out what happens to Alyce in this fantastic book!!!

By Markie Ray

Middle Ages Medicine.......2007-06-07

It just seemed like the little girl was in the right place at the right time. She was about twelve or thirteen years old and had never remembered having any sort of family. One night to keep warm, she huddled into a pile of waste and animal dung and slept there. In the morning she was found by the village's midwife, a woman who helped to deliver babies with a combination of herbs and magic. She needed someone to carry supplies and do some of her dirty work, and so she took on the little girl, naming her Beetle.

This story takes place during the Middle Ages, before medicine was as developed as it is today. Much of the midwife's work was mystical instead of scientific. Although the midwife guards her secrets carefully, Beetle finds herself learning just by watching, how to bring a baby into the world. One night after the midwife has given up on a woman and left, Beetle stays behind with her and helps her have a successful birth. Soon another woman recommends Beetle. She finds she can't help this woman, though, and she becomes discouraged and angry at herself. She runs away from the village and finds a new job working at an inn. But will this life at the inn be enough for this little girl who once helped to bring babies into the world?

I liked the little side plots, like the story about the devil walking the town and leading the townsfolk to all sorts of bad things, and the story about Edward. I liked the people at the inn and the way they treated the little girl, especially Magister Reese.

I didn't like the major turnaround in attitude that the midwife had from most of the book to the very end, when she was very complimentary toward Beetle.

A GREAT HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK TO READ!.......2007-04-07

The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman is an exciting Middle Age historical fiction book. It is about a homeless 12-13 year old girl with only the name "Brat" found in a dung pile at a village to keep warm. A midwife comes and after coldly saying that only workers get food, Brat eagerly says she'll work for the midwife for food and shelter. Seeing that the child is wise enough to use the heat from the dung pile, the midwife accepts Brat as her apprentice. And from that day on, she was known as the midwife's apprentice. She finds out her midwife's name is Jane and her job is to deliver babies. Although the midwife greedily tries to hide her skills, Brat learns a few of them. She is ignorant at the beginning, and scared of the midwife. She does the usual chores everyday: starting the fire, sweeps the cottage's dirt floor, sprinkles it with water, and other dull chores. She also befriends an orange cat that listened to Brat's complaints and sometimes sympathetically rubbed against Brat's leg. Sometimes, she helped the midwife and gave her supplies while the midwife delivers babies. She even makes a name for herself: Alyce. Alyce gradually gains more confidence and wit inside of herself. One time, she even delivers a baby without the midwife's help. But when Alyce fails at an important task, she runs away, thinking she is stupid to fail at that assignment and wanders away to an inn. She then starts to work there and becomes an inn girl. She tries to work as hard as she can. Alyce finally has the three things she always wanted in her life: "a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world" when working at the inn. She also gains some knowledge, from the help of a man called Magister Reese. She is grateful to work here, because many people are kind to her, unlike Jane Sharp. She overhears a conversation between Jane and Magister Reese. She then thinks about her place in the world, and decides to go back and become the midwife's apprentice again. This book teaches you many lessons, including to never give up and the meaning of survival.

The Midwife's apprentice........2007-03-21

In "The Midwife's apprentice" there is a homeless girl that usually sleeps in a dung heap. She has no name everyone is mean to her and calls her "brat" and/or "dung beetle". She has no family and her only friend is a cat. She starts working for a midwife (a person who helps people with birth). She works for food and shelter. One day she finds one of her friends in a hole with a pregnat cow and helps the boy comfort the cow while it was giving birth. So now she knows a little about about people giving birth. After a while she meets a little boy she calls edward and tells him to go work. So he does. She never saw him for a while. So one day when the midwife was helping another person she helps the millars wife give birth and suceeds. Then she helps another person and fails she thinks now that she is stupid and can't do anything and runs away. She finds a hotel and starts working there for shelter. Awhile later shes goes back to the village to see edward. She figures she should go back to the village and live there so she does. She asks the midwife if she can work for her once more.This all took place in the 1600s.
My Opinion:
My opinion is that the book was okay but it had sort of a bad ending. My favorite character was the main one (Alyce). I would recommend this book to people wanting to now about the Medevil ages. There were some boring parts and bad parts but overall it was good.

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