Helpful Score: 3
Down the Common is an uncommon book, one which delivers the reality of history with a wallop. This is a book I will keep to reread. It is an example of what a well-researched historical novel can give a reader ... an understanding of the lives of the people of an era and the forces that both motivate and impead them, and an empathy for a central character who is tested every day ... and the test is just to survive.
P. E. (Philly) reviewed Down the Common: A Year in the Life of a Medieval Woman : A Novel on + 38 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
An engaging book about life for women in medieval times. As a modern woman, it was an eye-opener of how difficult survival became for a wife and mother. When we watch movies about this era, we are never shown the nitty gritty of everyday life. Imagine an entire family living in a one-room hut, potty training a toddler without the modern conveniences we take for granted today. A must read for historical fiction fans.
Katherine W. (KateW) reviewed Down the Common: A Year in the Life of a Medieval Woman : A Novel on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I actually read this book as a part of my B.A. programme and truly enjoyed it. A caveat is that it is a fiction novel, not an academic book, but the author does a wonderful job of conveying a sense of the time from the bottom-up.
