Title: The Time Traveller’s Guide to Elizabethan England
Author: Ian Mortimer
First published July 2, 2010
432 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9781847921147 (ISBN10: 1847921140)
Rating: 4.09
Overview
Step into a time machine and journey to the past with The Time Traveller’s Guide to Elizabethan England by Ian Mortimer. Discover the reality of living in Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, beyond the romanticized image of a golden age.
Explore the streets of London in the 1590s and experience the struggles of everyday life. What would you eat?
What would you wear? Would you still feel the glory of the era despite the diseases, violence, sexism and famine?
Mortimer delves into the harsh realities of a country where life expectancy is short, people starve to death and Catholics are persecuted. However, it’s also a country that produces some of the finest literature and architecture, and sees Elizabeth’s subjects circumnavigate the globe.
The contradictions of Elizabethan England make it the very crucible of the modern world. This book is your guide to understanding it all.
About the Author
Meet Dr. Ian Mortimer – a historian and novelist who rose to fame with his Time Traveller’s Guides series. With an impressive academic background including BA, MA, PhD and DLitt degrees from the University of Exeter and UCL, Mortimer is also a Fellow of both the Royal Historical Society and the Society of Antiquaries.
In 2004, he was awarded the eminent Alexander Prize by the Royal Historical Society. Mortimer resides in the quaint Dartmoor town of Moretonhampstead with his family, and often uses the town as a setting in his books.
While historical fiction remains his forte, his latest novel ‘Why Running Matters’ is a memoir documenting his running experiences in the year he turned fifty. And if that wasn’t enough, Mortimer is also a songwriter with his CD, ‘Dr Ian Mortimer’s Comedies, Histories & Tragedies’ available and a second CD, Autumn Songs, in the works.
Editoral Review
The Time Traveller’s Guide to Elizabethan England by Ian Mortimer offers readers a vivid and detailed look at life in 16th-century England. Mortimer, a noted historian and biographer, is well-suited to the task, having authored several other books on medieval and early modern England.
Published in 2010, this book stands out from others of its kind by adopting a unique narrative approach, combining scholarship and storytelling to focus on every aspect of daily life in the Elizabethan era. Mortimer’s literary style is both informative and engaging, striking a balance between scholarly discourse and fictional narration.
Through the curious character of Dr. Dee, a physician, teacher, and alchemist, the author transports readers back in time to explore the various facets of Elizabethan England, including entertainment, fashion, politics, business, and religion. The book offers rich and vivid descriptions of the people, culture, and traditions of the period, capturing its essence and historical significance.
The book begins with an overview of the Elizabethan era, followed by chapters that delve into various elements of life in the period. Mortimer does an excellent job of weaving in historical facts and anecdotes into his narrative, providing a comprehensive and holistic view of the period.
He also tackles controversial topics such as witchcraft, religious persecution, and the bubonic plague with a balanced, objective tone. One notable strength of The Time Traveller’s Guide to Elizabethan England is the attention given to the experiences of ordinary people.
Mortimer’s depiction of their lives is particularly engaging, as he provides a comprehensive look at the daily routines and social customs of the period. He does an excellent job of demonstrating the ways in which social class and gender affected the lives of people during this time, highlighting the stark inequalities that existed.
Another strength is the book’s relevance to contemporary society. Mortimer takes care to draw parallels between the Elizabethan era and our modern world, highlighting the similarities in social and political struggles.
The book’s exploration of religious diversity, for instance, resonates with ongoing debates around multiculturalism and religious pluralism in modern society. However, the book’s narrative structure can sometimes feel disjointed, particularly when Mortimer introduces new characters or topics too abruptly.
The book’s depth of detail may also be overwhelming to some readers, particularly those who are not already well-versed in early modern history. Overall, The Time Traveller’s Guide to Elizabethan England is an engaging and informative book that is sure to delight fans of history and fiction alike.
Mortimer’s unique approach to blending academic research and imaginative storytelling makes for an entertaining and informative read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in early modern history, particularly those who enjoy narrative nonfiction.
On a scale of one to five stars, I would rate this book a solid four, mainly because of the minor limitations in its structure. Nonetheless, this does not detract from the book’s overall quality, and I would consider it a must-read for history buffs and casual readers alike.
