Too little intimate history has been written of common people in the
Middle Ages. Most "comprehensive" works pass them by in favor of tales
of monarchs and warriors. Yet if we truly wish to form an accurate
understanding of how life was during a certain period, it is to the
lives of ordinary people that we should first direct out attention. It
is precisely this strategy that Eileen Power employs in Medieval
People. In this refreshingly insightful collection of lives untouched
by fame, Power guides the reader through the everyday activities of
merchants, travelers, peasants, and monastics, painting a vivid picture
of medieval life through their personal stories. Though of course
meticulously researched-drawing upon journals, letters, court documents,
wills, and first-hand accounts-Power's lives are far from the stuffily
academic. She gives her characters room in a way that makes comfortable
space for the reader to walk alongside them, sharing their daily
activities, their wants and cares, trials and triumphs. Both highly
enjoyable and informative, Medieval People is sure to appeal to
students, teachers, and all those with a particular interest in medieval
history.