Medieval Britain : Age of Chivalry - Softcover

The Laings, writers on ancient art and archaeology, provide a comprehensive picture of Britain from the Norman Conquest to the end of the Wars of the Roses. Their explanations of the intricate mechanisms of both feudalism and the manor system are lucid, concise, and generally accurate. Charismatic figures, such as Edward I, Richard I, and even Robin Hood, are placed in proper historical perspective. The authors' examination of rural society, particularly at the lower levels, provides the reader with a feel for the ebb and flow of daily life, with its poverty and occasional brutality. This is a well-researched, lavishly illustrated, and easily readable survey that will be instructive for the general reader. Jay Freeman