Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
Loading... Magdalena and Balthasar : An Intimate Portrait of Life in 16th Century Europe Revealed in the Letters of a Nuremberg Husband and Wifeby Steven Ozment
None Loading...
Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. This book gives some interesting insights into merchant class life in Germany at the time. Balthasar is a merchant in Nuremberg who makes regular trips to Italy to purchase fabrics, wines and other merchandise, to the Frankfurt fair to sell and to various hot springs for his health. His wife Magdalena mostly stays at home except for visits to family members in other towns, but she not a mere housewife. She distributes merchandise, including judging the quality of wine to be sold, collects moneys owed and communicates with other members of the family business. The letters between the couple are partly business, partly personal news of family and neighbors, suggestions about items to purchase and admonitions to eat right, travel carefully and return as soon as practical. I was most surprised to learn that after the death of their 10 year old son, Magdalena was able to order an autopsy, apparently on her own authority as her husband was traveling. I had no idea that autopsies were legal or routine at the time. The editor, Steven Ozment, a specialist in Reformation era history at Harvard, interlaces the letters with commentary on the customs, religion and history of the period. Very interesting. no reviews | add a review
Autobiographical letters by a sixteenth century Lutheran couple much concerned with their health, their business, the small luxuries of life, and the inscrutable ways of God. No library descriptions found. |
Current DiscussionsNonePopular covers
Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)943.03History and Geography Europe Germany and central Europe Historical periods of Germany Reformation to 1618 1517-1618LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
Is this you?Become a LibraryThing Author. |