Review: Shakespeare’s London on 5 Groats a Day, by Richard Tames

As with Ian Mortimer’s excellent A Time Traveller’s Guide to Elizabethan England, this book is a modern day history that has an in-character primary source type of approach, putting the reader in the shoes of a visitor to the capital in the late 16^th century.

The book covers not just the city but also parts of its surrounding
area, in terms of reaching London when travelling there and taking day trips. There’s interesting detail on how social aspects such as the guilds function, and the defence of the city in times of woe (slightly odd but telling to read that longbows are superior to muskets but even the Queen’s guards swapped the former for the latter).

From shopping to staying at swanky inns (or less delightful taverns), what to eat (or not), the public spectacle of executions, and the biggest men, and women, in Elizabethan society, this is a good book for learning more about what it would be like to visit or live in London during that time. It’s also handy for world-builders thinking of how a society without our level of tech, and society with more old-fashioned views, might function.

The light-hearted style makes it entertaining and easy to read, and there are lots of little snippers of London lingo and lore that are concise but interesting.

It’s a slim book, which was to my liking and may be a pro or con depending on what you’re after.

Thaddeus

Review: Half A King (Shattered Sea Book 1), by Joe Abercrombie

It’s been a long time since I read a whole book in 2-3 days. But I read this one that fast.

Admittedly this was partly due to the internet being down which meant I played a lot of video games and read far more than usual. Nevertheless, if I’d been less taken with Half A King I would’ve done something else with my unexpected abundance of time.

The story follows the tale of Yarvi, a young lad of royal blood missing most of one hand. Naturally, this has rather held him back in the approximately Anglo-Saxon/Viking fictional world in which he lives. Hard to be a great warrior when you’re half a king.

The premise is that his father and brother suddenly die and he ends up being thrust into the role of king, something that nobody seems to want, including himself. But he soon discovers there are far more uncomfortable seats than the throne.

The narrative sticks with Yarvi throughout rather than switching points of view, and it works. The world is bitter, and cold, and so are the people, but along the way force of circumstance brings him together with some unlikely allies as they strive to escape the torment of fate and return to their homes.

One thing I especially liked, and won’t spoil, is the ending, which I think the author absolutely nailed.

All in all, a very good read and I’m glad I had it to hand to help occupy the time when a wiring problem set me adrift from the internet.

Thaddeus