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.
Stella P. (Tabby) reviewed Down the Common: A Year in the Life of a Medieval Woman : A Novel on + 195 more book reviews
What was life like for a commoner, especially a woman in Medieval England? Here we see Marian, as she struggles with pain and joy, month after month with the winter cold, hunger, backbreaking work, household chores, family life and illness and comes out as a true survivor of the world in which she lives.
Dianne (gardngal) reviewed Down the Common: A Year in the Life of a Medieval Woman : A Novel on + 271 more book reviews
This book took a long time (eight years!) to get to me, and it was well worth the wait. It is excellent! The characters are well fleshed out, very realistic. Family life is depicted with all its triumphs and defeats. The struggles and joys of the era are well researched. Hope the author will decide to write again. D. :)
