England Week - The Plague

Finding Nell of Branford Hall was like finding a little jewel. First and foremost, with no draggy parts nor dull characters, it was a pleasure to read. Then I was impressed with how it sprinkled in just a snippet of the Glorious Revolution, the Royal Society and other English history. But of course, the main course here is the plague...

It started with rumors that the dreaded disease was in Amsterdam and would get to England eventually. By the time Nell makes her first visit to London the plague has arrived. While there she has a major transportation problem. Her carriage wheel breaks and when she and an escort go in search of a hackney coach to hire they discover they are in the most disease ridden area of the city. Oh, the sites she sees! Ghastly. With great relief she finally returns to Branford Hall. But alas, the plague arrives in her beloved Branford Village. The villagers concoct a plan to deal with the plague. But will Nell’s dearest friend, Kate, survive?

The one oddity to me is that Nell’s uncle, a doctor, knows with certainty that the disease is spread by fleas. I believe this wasn't figured out until after the fact. But I'll say this, young readers will never again think of the plague without thinking of fleas.

Ages 10 and up
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Activity: Play medieval doctor. Try to diagnose and cure three patients. Read about their symptoms and then decide what treatment to prescribe.

Good Knight Stories

The Barefoot Book of Knights is a cleverly presented retelling of seven tales from days of yore. Most of the stories originated in Europe, but the author also includes legends from Japan, Persia and Russia.

The stories are told through the kindly voice of Master William, the Armorer of the castle, who is in charge of several pages, including a young boy named Tom. When Tom doesn’t understand why a future knight, such as he, should have to wash dishes, or is envious of his brothers approaching knighthood, or is not cooperating with a fellow page, or is just homesick, Master William knows just the right story to set him straight.

Your child will gain a sense of what life was like for a ten year old page starting a new life at a castle. And he or she will relish listening in as Master William tells his tales!

Ages 6-12
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Activity: Knights first used decorated shields in battle as a way to identify allies from enemies. Here is a fun, free place to design your own shield and print it out.

You also might like this Knight Word Search from another post.

Eye Witness to History

The Roman philosopher Seneca wrote of his day at the Coliseum watching the Gladiators. Pliny the Younger recalled in a letter how he barely survived the Pompeii disaster of 79AD. Sadie Frowne told of immigrating to America from Poland and Lady Bird Johnson recorded her memories of the day JFK was shot. All these juicy tidbits from history have been collected at an amazingly well organized site, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com.

Browse fascinating written eyewitness accounts from the making of a mummy to Nixon leaving the Whitehouse. But there are also recorded voices, fascinating photos and amazing videos available too.

Warning...addictive browsing. Very bookmark worthy.

Ages 9 and up
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Midwife Crisis

When you wake up homeless, penniless, nameless, cold, hungry and alone in a dung heap I guess it's safe to say there is no where to go but up. That's the situation in which the main character in The Midwife's Apprentice found herself. She eventually names herself Alyce and eventually makes her way in the world, but not before being discovered by the unpleasant village midwife who bestows on her the name Beetle (as in dung beetle), and eeks all the assistance out of her she can. On top of that Alyce is subjected to much belittling and bullying by all manner of villagers.

I really enjoyed two things about this book. One was the metamorphosis of Alyce from a weakling into a confident young woman. And the other was Karen Cushman's portrayal of medieval life. For an older child (heed my warning below) studying the middle ages this will provide interesting reading.

Awards: 1996 Newbery Award Winner

Warning: Contains references to adultery and an unmarried young couple's tryst.

Ages 12 and up
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Activity: Here's your chance to play Medieval Midwife. Can you match the herb to the correct labor symptom and pick the best pre-delivery position for the baby?

A Year in the Life of a Peasant

If you ever think to yourself, "I wonder what life was like for the Medieval peasant?" then I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of Till Year's Good End by W. Nikola-Lisa. Each spread is devoted to the work accomplished in a given month, starting with January. I adore this book. The illustrations are wonderful. Obviously their creator, Christopher Manson, was inspired by medieval woodcuts. As you turn the book's pages you realize that he has captured the essence of the changing seasons. The first person verses for each month are pleasing to read...

MARCH: I till the earth first sign of spring. And sow good seed while blackbirds sing.

Just enough additional explanations are included. Your child will gain insight into the tenant farmer arrangement and realize just how long the peasant chore list was: collect firewood, repair bridges, clear roads and ditches, maintain buildings, repair nets, make harnesses, sharpen knives and axes, fit handles on scythes and sickles, make reed mats and baskets, carve wooden spoons, platters and bowls, spin flax and wool into thread, make clothes, make candles, make ropes, mend fences, feed the livestock, plow, plant, prune, build wattle-and-daub buildings with thatched roofs, sheer the sheep, tend the beehives, mow and bundle the hay, weed, harvest the crops, mine the salt, grind the flour, bake the bread, clean the privy, slaughter the livestock, smoke the meat, pick the fruit and make the wine.

Sure makes a "clean your room" request seem easily surmountable.

Ages 6-9

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Activity: Use this 15th Century recipe to make some gingerbread.

FREE FRIDAY! —Knight clip art—

Knights

Have any of you seen A Knight's Tale? It's a fun, frolicking, follow your dreams, romance comedy starring Heath Ledger. The film has a charming way of mixing rock and roll with eye-pleasing medieval European scenes.

In comparison, I expected this book about knights to be d-u-l-l. But it turns out Fact Or Fiction: Knights isn't just about knights, and it isn't dull. I think a more appropriate title would be Cavalries—hmm, just doesn't have the same ring to it, does it? The author, Stewart Ross gives a sweeping history of the dynamic military duo: horse and man, from the Hittites in 1400 BC on up to their waning influence in the 20th century. Each of the book's 47 pages provides generous doses of information amid a heaping helping of illustrations.

Ages 9-12

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Activity: Here is a knight word search.