Synopses & Reviews
From the celebrated authors of Life in a Medieval Castle and Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel comes a fascinating glimpse at the details of medieval life. Taken from authentic records and personal letters, this is the actual story of three stormy generations of a remarkable English family.
The Pastons of Norfolk Have Long Been Known to medieval scholars for their large trove of personal correspondence, which has survived for five centuries. However, until now they have remained virtually unknown to the general reading public. The light their letters shed on manners, morals, lifestyle, and attitudes of the late Middle Ages is extraordinary; but the story they tell of these three generations of the Paston family also unfolds like a compelling historical novel, full of memorable characters and events. A Medieval Family chronicles the lives of Margaret Paston, the indomitable wife and mother who fought the family's battles; her husband, John Paston I, tough, hard headed, thrice confined to fleet prison but never yielding to his enemies; daughter Margery, who scandalized family and friends by falling in love with the Paston bailiff; and cheerful John III, who against all odds succeeded in marrying for love.
Tracing the family from 1420, through the stormy War of the Roses, and finally to the 1600s, A Medieval Family, extracted from their letters and papers and told largely in their own words, is a privileged look at a side of history rarely revealed: the lives and fortunes of an ordinary, middleclass family who, like families today, had their problems, tragedies, and moments of happiness.
Synopsis
The Paston family of Norfolk, England, has long been known to medieval scholars for its large collection of personal correspondence, which has survived five centuries. Revealing a wealth of information about manners, morals, lifestyle, and attitudes of the late Middle Ages, the letters also tell the story of three generations of the fifteenth-century Paston family that treads like a historical novel full of memorable characters: Margaret Paston, the indomitable wife and mother who fought the family's battles; her husband, John Paston I, tough, hardheaded, and thrice confined to Fleet Prison but never yielding to his enemies; daughter Margery, who scandalized family and friends by falling in love with the Paston bailiff, Richard Calle; lighthearted, chivalric Sir John; and cheerful, sensible John III, who against all odds succeeded in marrying for love.
A Medieval Family traces the Pastons history from 1420, through the stormy Wars of the Roses, to the early 1500s. The family's story, extracted from their letters and papers and told largely in their own words, shows a side of history rarely revealed: the lives and fortunes not of kings and queens but of ordinary middle-class people with problems, tragedies, and moments of happiness.
About the Author
Frances and Joseph Gies have been writing books about medieval history for thirty years. Together and separately, they are the authors of more than twenty books, including Life in a Medieval City, Life in a Medieval Castle, Life in a Medieval Village, The Knight in History, and Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel. They live near Ann Arbor, Michigan.Fiances and Joseph Gies have been writing books about medieval history for thirty years. Together and separately, they are the authors of more than twenty books, including Life in a Medieval City, Life in a Medieval Castle, Life in a Medieval Village, The Knight in History, and Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel. They live near Ann Arbor, Michigan.