Reviews
"[T]he book is a standout and must be examined if for no other reason than the images. The work will force historians and art historians of the medieval period to look beyond traditional art collections and to open their minds to other kinds of materials they could use to better understanding of the tastes and values of, at least, the majority of urban residents in the medieval period....[f]orces a renewed examination and consideration of just what kinds of artwork were created and for which of the many levels of medieval consumers they were intended. What he tells us in this volume about the population of the island kingdom, provides teachers with new material to draw into their classes for discussion, and reveals once again the incredible inventiveness, creativity, and craftsmanship of those who created these pieces of everyday art."- Sixteenth Century Journal, "[T]he book is a standout and must be examined if for no other reason than the images. The work will force historians and art historians of the medieval period to look beyond traditional art collections and to open their minds to other kinds of materials they could use to better understanding of the tastes and values of, at least, the majority of urban residents in the medieval period....[f]orces a renewed examination and consideration of just what kinds of artwork were created and for which of the many levels of medieval consumers they were intended. What he tells us in this volume about the population of the island kingdom, provides teachers with new material to draw into their classes for discussion, and reveals once again the incredible inventiveness, creativity, and craftsmanship of those who created these pieces of everyday art." Sixteenth Century Journal, "Jones has shed bright light on an intriguing and generally neglected facet of high medieval culture. Using objects of art, folklore, literature, misericords, archaeological finds, drawings, and other materials, he teaches readers about medieval fun and folly, proverbs, gender relations, nonsense, animal symbols, sexuality, scatology, and much more. A wondrous amount of cultural history is packed into this lavishly illustrated volume....Highly recommended. All collections and levels." Choice, "Jones has shed bright light on an intriguing and generally neglected facet of high medieval culture. Using objects of art, folklore, literature, misericords, archaeological finds, drawings, and other materials, he teaches readers about medieval fun and folly, proverbs, gender relations, nonsense, animal symbols, sexuality, scatology, and much more. A wondrous amount of cultural history is packed into this lavishly illustrated volume....Highly recommended. All collections and levels."- Choice