• The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England

  • A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century
  • By: Ian Mortimer
  • Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
  • Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (2,217 ratings)

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The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England  By  cover art

The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England

By: Ian Mortimer
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
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Publisher's summary

Imagine you could travel back to the 14th century. What would you see? What would you smell? More to the point, where are you going to stay? And what are you going to eat?

Ian Mortimer shows us that the past is not just something to be studied; it is also something to be lived. He sets out to explain what life was like in the most immediate way, through taking you to the Middle Ages.

The result is the most astonishing social history book you are ever likely to read: evolutionary in its concept, informative and entertaining in its detail, and startling for its portrayal of humanity in an age of violence, exuberance and fear.

©2008 Ian Mortimer (P)2009 Isis Publishing Ltd

Critic reviews

"A jaunty journey through the 14th century, one that wriggles with the stuff of everyday life." ( Guardian)

Featured Article: Travel to the Middle Ages with These Audiobooks and Podcasts


The Medieval Era, the tumultuous centuries from the fall of the Roman Empire to the advent of the Enlightenment, is one of the most alluring and intriguing periods of human history. Ready to travel back in time? Check out these audiobooks and podcasts, which cover everything from Icelandic sagas and Medieval murder to the queens of Medieval England and the scientific advancements of the Arab World.

What listeners say about The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England

Average customer ratings
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Just Right

Interesting without bogging down in details more relevant to academics. So often, histories blow passed the people who lived then. This book gives a sense of how 14th century English related to each other, what they believed, how they lived--all with a light tone of a modern tour guide. Not to say it was farcical, either. I perceived the underlying historical study that gives the book it's substance.

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Wonderful book, very insightful

This was an interesting and unique way to learn about a time and place I knew very little about. I loved hearing how people lived their daily lives, how they prepared food, and how they practiced medicine with the limited knowledge of disease they had at the time. It definitely makes me appreciate living in a time with penicillin.

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Such an enjoyable overview of Medieval History!

I only wish there was a young person's edition. I think it would be fantastic to use with my middle school students!

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Fun and interesting

Mortimer pens a great story, but Keeble brings it to life. Covers all manners of life and all levels of society in 14th century England.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A novel way to experience history

An easy read that you can pickup and put down without losing the thread. It’s a novel and interesting way to experience history and really does have you ‘walking in their shoes’. The narrator has a very pleasant voice and reads well.

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Great fun. You can even smell the era

This book really takes you to the age, times and people of the times. everything is interesting great listen!!!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Really is a handbook for "visitors".. Lots of info

What did you love best about The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England?

There was a lot of interesting information about the time period that I didnt anything about.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England?

The people in medieval England called the stream where they dumped their waste "Shitbrook"

Which character – as performed by Jonathan Keeble – was your favorite?

There were no characters.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Go back in time without leaving your chair

Any additional comments?

The book is a bit elementary but still an informative read. I do wonder if the premise is a bit far-fetched, but it seemed to work okay

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Entry into a new world

Brilliant idea very well executed. This period is so foreign and there are so many surprises in how differently we conduct our everyday lives that we perhaps lose sight of what hasn’t changed so much. The book is rich in detail, makes extraordinary use of contemporary sources, and focuses on the workaday world we can relate to. Not a period I will time travel to! Fascinating.

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Perfection.

Ian Mortimer is one of my favorite authors. He manages to transport you in a way that you experience everyday life from prince to pauper. If you are a history fan, you’ll love the details he brings to the table and the accuracy of his breakdowns. This book is a cult classic waiting to happen.

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Wonderful read.

Read more of this Author. Dreams come true. A detailed creation. Now and forever please

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