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I read the book Breath, by Donna Napoli and strongly believe it is one of the best Middle Ages novels out there. Breath is a story told from the perspective of a peasant in Europe who, along with everyone else, struggles to survive in the harsh reality of life at that time period. Things become even more challenging as a strange “sickness” over takes everyone in the town, killing animals and turning people into crazy madmen. The main character Salz tries to find answers where he can, turning to the church, his grandmother’s pagan “witch craft” and, attempting to acquire a rumored “Arab Medicine” that has arrived into Europe as a result of the crusades. This brief description highlights how historically accurate this great novel is.
In fact, there’s a lot to like about this novel. First, it has rich characters that allow you to either root for their survival, or fear their reactions. In the same way, as the action builds, every chapter ends before you want it to, and the fast pace action makes you want to keep reading. Furthermore, there is a lot to be learned about what life was like in the Middle Ages from reading this fun book.
Besides the fact that Breath is an interesting book, it is also quite historically accurate. For example, the main character Salz probably has what today we would know of as asthma. In the Middle Ages we have learned that they knew nearly nothing about medicine, and we see this happening in the book. Salz’s grandmother concocts strange and disgusting “brews” to treat him and tells him to stand on his head. It is quite accurate that they would have no better ideas or treatments other than herbs and superstition.
Without a doubt, I loved the book Breath. Either for a school project, or a book to read on vacation, this is a well written, historically accurate book.
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Breath by Donna Jo Napoli
erinsavage, April 5, 2007
I read the book Breath, by Donna Napoli and strongly believe it is one of the best Middle Ages novels out there. Breath is a story told from the perspective of a peasant in Europe who, along with everyone else, struggles to survive in the harsh reality of life at that time period. Things become even more challenging as a strange “sickness” over takes everyone in the town, killing animals and turning people into crazy madmen. The main character Salz tries to find answers where he can, turning to the church, his grandmother’s pagan “witch craft” and, attempting to acquire a rumored “Arab Medicine” that has arrived into Europe as a result of the crusades. This brief description highlights how historically accurate this great novel is.In fact, there’s a lot to like about this novel. First, it has rich characters that allow you to either root for their survival, or fear their reactions. In the same way, as the action builds, every chapter ends before you want it to, and the fast pace action makes you want to keep reading. Furthermore, there is a lot to be learned about what life was like in the Middle Ages from reading this fun book.
Besides the fact that Breath is an interesting book, it is also quite historically accurate. For example, the main character Salz probably has what today we would know of as asthma. In the Middle Ages we have learned that they knew nearly nothing about medicine, and we see this happening in the book. Salz’s grandmother concocts strange and disgusting “brews” to treat him and tells him to stand on his head. It is quite accurate that they would have no better ideas or treatments other than herbs and superstition.
Without a doubt, I loved the book Breath. Either for a school project, or a book to read on vacation, this is a well written, historically accurate book.
(12 of 22 readers found this comment helpful)