Life in Medieval Europe: Fact and Fiction

Many of today’s books, movies, and television shows are set in medieval Europe, and for many today these shows and books form the basis of information about that time. But how true are the representations of how people lived, what they ate, how they dressed, what they did for work and for fun, and so much more? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a book with answers to those questions that is easy to access and very readable? Look no further. Author Daniele Cybulskie is a former college professor and expert in all things medieval, but more than that, she has an accessible, conversational style in writing about this topic. Not many have the ability to make history as fun and interesting as Ms. Cybulskie does. For instance, in the food section there is this little gem: “If a mouse falls into a liquid, it shall be removed and sprinkled with holy water” and the food could then be served. She covers all aspects of life (the section on underwear is pretty interesting, including facts about communal underwear), and it is nicely organized, making the needed information easy to find and access. This is a great read. Don’t miss it.