"A Fool and his Money. Life in a Partitioned Town in Fourteenth Century France"
by Ann Wroe
This is not a standard historical fiction, it's more like a mystery set
in the past. The author follows a court case about a dispute over a hoard
of coins found in someone's drain. From all the evidence and testimony
that the clerks write down Wroe tries to piece together what life was like
for the inhabitants of the town. The book is utterly fascinating and
contains a wealth of details - details which are really good for persona
building. It contains just the kind of intimate details which most history
lacks, and which most historical fiction gets wrong. I really recommend
it.
Alys the Mad
"Medieval Woman - Village Life in the Middle Ages"
by Ann Baer
This tells story of a year in the life of Marion, wife of a carpenter.
It's a good atmospheric book which builds up a picture of village life
from details of the small worries of motherhood and housewifery. The tone
is mostly quiet and reflective, and gives an impression of the rhythm of
life constrained by the seasons and by repetitive work. At times the story
line can be a little contrived, so as to fit in all the detail, but it's a
good way to get all the information in an easy to read form.
Lady Magdelene Saunders