Medieval Places

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-- Numerous full-color reproductions of medieval art are the most attractive features of these books. Medieval People is divided into short chapters, each of which opens with a brief quote from a period writer such as Chaucer, and then proceeds to describe the typical responsibilities of individuals who held such positions as king, pope, chronicler, bishop, knight, monk, merchant, and even heretic. Because these descriptions are focused on generic types rather than real people, there is an impersonal tone that may diminish interest for casual readers. The Medieval Places described here aren't geographical, but that doesn't negate the need for a few maps. None are provided. Places where people worked, worshipped, or lived, such as the parish church, market, law courts, or castles, are described in short chapters that open with a quote from an unidentified writer of the time. These volumes provide straightforward information for reports, but there's nothing here that isn't duplicated in other books about Europe in the Middle Ages. Neither captures the excitement and color of the era. --David N. Pauli, Missoula Public Library, MT