Amanda
A breezy, speedy account of death, medicine, and funerary practices in the "Dark Ages."
First, the title of the book is a misnomer: disease, famine, and armed conflict are all common ways to die both then and now. The authors do give some examples of uncommon deaths, like Henry I dying after eating a surfeit of lampreys, but mostly it's recounting the same stuff that was covered in history class.
The authors are not always rigorous in presenting information in a way that distinguishes between verifiable facts and apocryphal tales, presenting the legend of Alfred and the cakes in the same way they do instances of the plague.
There is a lighthearted tone to the writing that makes the book an entertaining read despite the gruesome subject, but I do recommend it for anyone looking to educate themselves about the time period.
Received via NetGalley.
A breezy, speedy account of death, medicine, and funerary practices in the "Dark Ages."
First, the title of the book is a misnomer: disease, famine, and armed conflict are all common ways to die both then and now. The authors do give some examples of uncommon deaths, like Henry I dying after eating a surfeit of lampreys, but mostly it's recounting the same stuff that was covered in history class.
The authors are not always rigorous in presenting information in a way that distinguishes between verifiable facts and apocryphal tales, presenting the legend of Alfred and the cakes in the same way they do instances of the plague.
There is a lighthearted tone to the writing that makes the book an entertaining read despite the gruesome subject, but I do recommend it for anyone looking to educate themselves about the time period.
Received via NetGalley.