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How to Behave Badly in Renaissance Britain
NOTE: This is also sold as "How to behave badly in Elizabethan England", which is the American edition.
From royalty to peasantry, every age has its bad eggs, those who break all the rules and rub everyone up the wrong way. But their niggling, anti-social and irritating ways not only tell us about what upset people, but also what mattered to them, how their society functioned and what kind of world they lived in.
In this brilliantly nitty-gritty exploration of real life in the Tudor and Stuart age, you will discover:
- how to choose the perfect insult, whether it be draggletail, varlet, flap, saucy fellow, strumpet, ninny-hammer or stinkard
- why quoting Shakespeare was very poor form
- the politics behind men kissing each other on the lips
- why flashing the inside of your hat could repulse someone
- the best way to mock accents, preachers, soldiers and pretty much everything else besides
Ruth Goodman draws upon advice books and manuals, court cases and sermons, drama and imagery to outline bad behaviour from the gauche to the galling, the subtle to the outrageous. It is a celebration of drunkards, scolds, harridans and cross dressers in a time when calling a man a fool could get someone killed, and cursing wasn't just rude, it worked!
From royalty to peasantry, every age has its bad eggs, those who break all the rules and rub everyone up the wrong way. But their niggling, anti-social and irritating ways not only tell us about what upset people, but also what mattered to them, how their society functioned and what kind of world they lived in.
In this brilliantly nitty-gritty exploration of real life in the Tudor and Stuart age, you will discover:
- how to choose the perfect insult, whether it be draggletail, varlet, flap, saucy fellow, strumpet, ninny-hammer or stinkard
- why quoting Shakespeare was very poor form
- the politics behind men kissing each other on the lips
- why flashing the inside of your hat could repulse someone
- the best way to mock accents, preachers, soldiers and pretty much everything else besides
Ruth Goodman draws upon advice books and manuals, court cases and sermons, drama and imagery to outline bad behaviour from the gauche to the galling, the subtle to the outrageous. It is a celebration of drunkards, scolds, harridans and cross dressers in a time when calling a man a fool could get someone killed, and cursing wasn't just rude, it worked!
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2018
379 people are currently reading
6,287 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Goodman
14books648followersRuth Goodman is a social and domestic historian working with museums, theatre, television and educational establishments. She has presented (and consulted on) several highly successful television series including “The Edwardian Farm�, “The Victorian Farm�, “Victorian Farm Christmas� “Tales from the Green Valley� and “The Victorian Pharmacy� (all for primetime BBC Two) as well as presenting a variety of films for The One Show and Coast. “The Victorian Farm� was one of BBC Two’s biggest hits in 2009 and was nominated for a Royal Television Society Award. The book of the series, also called “The Victorian Farm� went to No. 1 in The Sunday Times’s best seller list. These were followed by The Wartime Farm which regularly attracted up to 3 million viewers per week and was also accompanied by a successful book of the same title. In 2013 she presented Tudor Monastery Farm and earlier in the year ‘The Wonder of Dogs� (BBC 2). She was the Judge on BBC 1’s �24 Hours in the Past� and is the historical expert on BBC 2’s “Inside the Factory: How our Favourite Foods are Made (now in its 8th series). Ruth is currently Presenter on Channel 5’s “On the Farm�.
As well as her tv tie-in books, she has published “How to be a Victorian� and “How to be a Tudor� (Pub: Penguin Viking) both critically and commercially successful in the UK and abroad including the US and China. Her most recent books are “How to Behave Badly in Renaissance Britain� was published in 2018 by Michael O’Mara and “The Domestic Revolution � How the introduction of Coal into our homes changed Everything� was published in 2020.
As well as her television work, Ruth offers advisory services, lectures and holds practical workshops around the country. As a social historian she works with a whole range of people, institutions and museums such as The Weald and Downland, The Globe Theatre, Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust, the National Trust and the heritage and drama departments of several universities.
Her particular interest is the domestic; how we lived our daily lives and why we did the things we did. Also how seemingly little things change the world. Our day to day routines have a huge cumulative effect on the environment; our shopping habits can sway the world’s patterns of trade and how we organise and run our family life sets the political tone of nations.
As Ruth says “We matter. How our ancestors � ordinary men, women and children � solved the nitty gritty problems of everyday life made the world what it is today�.
Ruth’s consultancy work covers media (including assisting make up artists with Elizabethan cosmetics in ‘Shakespeare in Love�, information on personal hygiene practices for Channel 4’s Colonial House), interpretation for museums and heritage sites, designing exhibitions and training staff. Her courses and lectures cover everything from ‘History of Eating�, ‘Victorian Cleaning�, ‘The Cycle of Life�, ‘Babies and Birth�, ‘Medicine � A Consumer’s Guide� and ‘A Good Death�. Her favoured periods are Tudor, Edwardian, Elizabethan and Victorian.
As well as her tv tie-in books, she has published “How to be a Victorian� and “How to be a Tudor� (Pub: Penguin Viking) both critically and commercially successful in the UK and abroad including the US and China. Her most recent books are “How to Behave Badly in Renaissance Britain� was published in 2018 by Michael O’Mara and “The Domestic Revolution � How the introduction of Coal into our homes changed Everything� was published in 2020.
As well as her television work, Ruth offers advisory services, lectures and holds practical workshops around the country. As a social historian she works with a whole range of people, institutions and museums such as The Weald and Downland, The Globe Theatre, Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust, the National Trust and the heritage and drama departments of several universities.
Her particular interest is the domestic; how we lived our daily lives and why we did the things we did. Also how seemingly little things change the world. Our day to day routines have a huge cumulative effect on the environment; our shopping habits can sway the world’s patterns of trade and how we organise and run our family life sets the political tone of nations.
As Ruth says “We matter. How our ancestors � ordinary men, women and children � solved the nitty gritty problems of everyday life made the world what it is today�.
Ruth’s consultancy work covers media (including assisting make up artists with Elizabethan cosmetics in ‘Shakespeare in Love�, information on personal hygiene practices for Channel 4’s Colonial House), interpretation for museums and heritage sites, designing exhibitions and training staff. Her courses and lectures cover everything from ‘History of Eating�, ‘Victorian Cleaning�, ‘The Cycle of Life�, ‘Babies and Birth�, ‘Medicine � A Consumer’s Guide� and ‘A Good Death�. Her favoured periods are Tudor, Edwardian, Elizabethan and Victorian.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews
May 13, 2022
An informative, interesting and, at times, humorous look at "behaving badly" in Renaissance Britain from early 16th to mid-17th century.
As with all Ruth Goodman's books, this volume benefits from her own work and detailed research (more often through living history), along with contemporary sources and this gives the reader the confidence that what is laid down on the page is correct and supported, or where Ms Goodman offers opinion/conjecture it is done with background and experience to provide these suggestions or interpretations.
The book covers a wider range of areas and subjects including dress, sex, language including swearing and slang/street speak, as well as gestures, mockery, violence and, my favourites, disgusting habits - farting, burping, spitting and so forth - and repulsive bodies.
There are some good aspects within the book that help correct/challenge the modern view that our ancestors were unclean, ill-mannered and simplistic. Through her sources and experience we - if one didn't already know - that, for example, table manners, hygiene and respect were all highly important. What Ms Goodman does is then to place behaviours (expected good and disapproved of bad) into context of 1550-1660 England and the political, religious, scientific and social boundaries and the beliefs of people.
Overall, this is a good addition to the "how did people live and behave" segment of historical writing and study. It requires some investment in time to read and digest the information offered, but no detailed knowledge of the period or indeed Britain - in truth read England here - is required.
Enjoyable, informative and fun. A solid 3 star rating.
There are a good number of black and white illustrations within each chapter and a list of sources plus an index. My copy was the Michael O'Mara paperback edition published 2020 with 362 printed pages.
As with all Ruth Goodman's books, this volume benefits from her own work and detailed research (more often through living history), along with contemporary sources and this gives the reader the confidence that what is laid down on the page is correct and supported, or where Ms Goodman offers opinion/conjecture it is done with background and experience to provide these suggestions or interpretations.
The book covers a wider range of areas and subjects including dress, sex, language including swearing and slang/street speak, as well as gestures, mockery, violence and, my favourites, disgusting habits - farting, burping, spitting and so forth - and repulsive bodies.
There are some good aspects within the book that help correct/challenge the modern view that our ancestors were unclean, ill-mannered and simplistic. Through her sources and experience we - if one didn't already know - that, for example, table manners, hygiene and respect were all highly important. What Ms Goodman does is then to place behaviours (expected good and disapproved of bad) into context of 1550-1660 England and the political, religious, scientific and social boundaries and the beliefs of people.
Overall, this is a good addition to the "how did people live and behave" segment of historical writing and study. It requires some investment in time to read and digest the information offered, but no detailed knowledge of the period or indeed Britain - in truth read England here - is required.
Enjoyable, informative and fun. A solid 3 star rating.
There are a good number of black and white illustrations within each chapter and a list of sources plus an index. My copy was the Michael O'Mara paperback edition published 2020 with 362 printed pages.
January 18, 2019
I love Ruth Goodman for her dedication to the minutiae of daily life in history, and this book showcases that. She gives details on how people swore, fought, and roamed in gangs, and also how they went to the bathroom, dealt with their periods, and kept clean. Her appreciation for the past is always present, but clear-sighted: she explains why and how people did things without either mocking or worshipping them.
I very much enjoyed reading this, even though it took forever, largely because I had to try out all the walks and dances and gestures in order to have some vague idea of what Goodman was talking about. If you have a better sense of blocking, it might not be quite as difficult for you, though. (I did learn a really good gesture that, while no longer in common use, conveys disdain so perfectly that I have every intention of using it going forward. So my efforts weren’t wasted.)
My favorite fact from this book: if you were wealthy and privileged, you could, in the 1500s and 1600s, send your son to the University of Padua, where he could learn from a professor of napkin folding. (And we are not talking about the casual swan you sometimes find your personal napkin folded into in restaurants today. We are talking about giant, sculpted centerpieces, often with moving parts, made of ... napkins. Somehow.) Your son would even be taught heraldry and symbolism, so he could make better, more meaningful napkin centerpieces. I am a better person for knowing this, I’m sure of it.
I very much enjoyed reading this, even though it took forever, largely because I had to try out all the walks and dances and gestures in order to have some vague idea of what Goodman was talking about. If you have a better sense of blocking, it might not be quite as difficult for you, though. (I did learn a really good gesture that, while no longer in common use, conveys disdain so perfectly that I have every intention of using it going forward. So my efforts weren’t wasted.)
My favorite fact from this book: if you were wealthy and privileged, you could, in the 1500s and 1600s, send your son to the University of Padua, where he could learn from a professor of napkin folding. (And we are not talking about the casual swan you sometimes find your personal napkin folded into in restaurants today. We are talking about giant, sculpted centerpieces, often with moving parts, made of ... napkins. Somehow.) Your son would even be taught heraldry and symbolism, so he could make better, more meaningful napkin centerpieces. I am a better person for knowing this, I’m sure of it.
December 23, 2018
This is highly informative, but the funny part is that we as people and what things offend us haven't changed that much. The tendency not to be as deeply offended by dispersions on character being the one thing that separates us. Goodman does a good job covering verbal insults, rude gestures, courtesies or lack thereof, and hierarchical behavioral expectations of sex and class.
If you bowed to one individual you looked straight at them, if it was several people at once you moved your gaze between them, ideally catching each eye in turn with, as de Lauze tells us 'a smiling countenance'. It is very easy in a group bow, however, to leave someone out. Moreover, you can do it without anyone else in the room being aware of your omission. A lovely little personal dig.
Though we don't bow anymore, this works just as well today by not acknowledging someone.
Overall, it moves pretty quickly though the sections on weapons and personal hygiene are a bit long and drawn out.
If you bowed to one individual you looked straight at them, if it was several people at once you moved your gaze between them, ideally catching each eye in turn with, as de Lauze tells us 'a smiling countenance'. It is very easy in a group bow, however, to leave someone out. Moreover, you can do it without anyone else in the room being aware of your omission. A lovely little personal dig.
Though we don't bow anymore, this works just as well today by not acknowledging someone.
Overall, it moves pretty quickly though the sections on weapons and personal hygiene are a bit long and drawn out.
January 10, 2020
I am pretty sure that my mere existence in Elizabethan England would start a fight- purple-haired, septum piercing, mouthy woman that curses *a lot*. I would definitely be burned as a witch. Nonetheless, I'm glad that now I could start an absolutely proper fight in Elizabethan England. I'm so impressed by the author's discussion of her attempts to mimic beer recipes, trying various menstruation methods, etc. I would read a whole book just on her Elizabethan experiments. Though it was a bit repetitive at times, and probably could have been shortened in such instances, its a fun read for anyone interested in the period.
The audio was delightful.
The audio was delightful.
July 30, 2019
An interesting account into manners in Tudor England, showing us that what was considered rude back in the 16th Century is quite likely to be rude today. My version was narrated by the author herself and this added to the appeal of the book: the reading was full of energy and meaning and Ruth Goodman's excellent sense of humour showed through. As I make my way through the Matthew Shardlake series, this was an excellent book to read as it gave more insight into Elizabethan and Tudor society.
December 27, 2018
There were several ways during historical England that one could learn to be posh, poised, polite, prim, and proper; ranging from courtly manual lessons to ‘finishing schools� (living with a noble family). But, what if you were fed up with all that wanted to be ‘bad� and to rebel? Run amok? Be crazy?! Ruth Goodman is here to help you out with precisely that in, “How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England: A Guide for Knaves, Fools, Harlots, Cuckolds, Drunkards, Liars, Thieves, and Braggarts�.
“How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� is a slight misnomer as Goodman’s work is not an actual how-to guide or checklist and is instead a narrative and readable collection of pages. Goodman divides the content of “How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� by chapter following a natural order of speech, gestures, mockery, violence, habits, the body, and overall summary with each chapter discussing sub-bullets within the topic. This is topped off with eloquent and flourished writing with an academic edge to educate while also titillating readers.
“How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� provides an insight into the proper manners of Tudor and Stuart-period England while slightly touching upon the ways of neighboring countries due to their propensity to influence the fashion and lifestyle choices of England. Using this method, Goodman then switches gears by scholarly explaining how to go against these norms and customs in order to be a ruffian. This is supplemented with extensive research, primary source examples, stories of actual people (through court records), and occasional illustrations from the period.
Godoman’s piece is clearly unique and diverse but also fits well on the history shelves providing both a micro and macro view. The level and extent of research is undeniable. However, sometimes the material can become too technical and ‘dry� making “How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� best in small doses in order to grasp all of the content and truly soak it in.
Occasionally, Goodman injects “How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� with an almost psychological analysis and breakdown of societal norms alongside her findings which adds flesh to the skeleton of the thesis and therefore adds intrinsic value to the book. Goodman also shares her personal experiences at attempting specific mannerisms, making the subject more ‘real�.
At times, “How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� slips into a more straight-forward history territory such as during the explanation of the tobacco trade and plantations. This is still powerful in its ability to rivet readers but doesn’t fit the aim (or title) of the book.
Goodman concludes each chapter with a recap of what was learned in the respective chapter, helping to make the material ‘sticky�.
“How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� finishes with a summarizing chapter of the entire book ending the piece with a strong, solid foot-hold. Goodman also includes a Bibliography but, sadly, a Notes section is absent from the pages.
“How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� is a quirky, charming, entertaining read that is certainly high in academics rather than being an utter fluff or humor piece. The writing engages readers while educating in a smooth and seamless way. Just make sure to take some breaks during reading in order to grasp every detail. “How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� is recommended for all English history lovers particularly those interested in Tudor and Stuart England.
“How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� is a slight misnomer as Goodman’s work is not an actual how-to guide or checklist and is instead a narrative and readable collection of pages. Goodman divides the content of “How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� by chapter following a natural order of speech, gestures, mockery, violence, habits, the body, and overall summary with each chapter discussing sub-bullets within the topic. This is topped off with eloquent and flourished writing with an academic edge to educate while also titillating readers.
“How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� provides an insight into the proper manners of Tudor and Stuart-period England while slightly touching upon the ways of neighboring countries due to their propensity to influence the fashion and lifestyle choices of England. Using this method, Goodman then switches gears by scholarly explaining how to go against these norms and customs in order to be a ruffian. This is supplemented with extensive research, primary source examples, stories of actual people (through court records), and occasional illustrations from the period.
Godoman’s piece is clearly unique and diverse but also fits well on the history shelves providing both a micro and macro view. The level and extent of research is undeniable. However, sometimes the material can become too technical and ‘dry� making “How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� best in small doses in order to grasp all of the content and truly soak it in.
Occasionally, Goodman injects “How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� with an almost psychological analysis and breakdown of societal norms alongside her findings which adds flesh to the skeleton of the thesis and therefore adds intrinsic value to the book. Goodman also shares her personal experiences at attempting specific mannerisms, making the subject more ‘real�.
At times, “How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� slips into a more straight-forward history territory such as during the explanation of the tobacco trade and plantations. This is still powerful in its ability to rivet readers but doesn’t fit the aim (or title) of the book.
Goodman concludes each chapter with a recap of what was learned in the respective chapter, helping to make the material ‘sticky�.
“How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� finishes with a summarizing chapter of the entire book ending the piece with a strong, solid foot-hold. Goodman also includes a Bibliography but, sadly, a Notes section is absent from the pages.
“How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� is a quirky, charming, entertaining read that is certainly high in academics rather than being an utter fluff or humor piece. The writing engages readers while educating in a smooth and seamless way. Just make sure to take some breaks during reading in order to grasp every detail. “How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England� is recommended for all English history lovers particularly those interested in Tudor and Stuart England.
December 1, 2023
This one was fun history, plenty to learn, but told in a very enjoyable and engaging way. When you think about it, it's not at all surprising that women back then would also blame the dog for farting. Interesting to hear how frowned upon it was for ladies to dress as men. Men could dress as ladies, but only in certain circumstances. And who knew they used to grow tobacco in Winchcombe, it's obviously got more to it than just the pottery.
If you want some fun, irreverent history, you won't go far wrong with this one.
If you want some fun, irreverent history, you won't go far wrong with this one.
September 28, 2018
In depth, incredibly fascinating, and very well researched. A delight for anyone interested in Elizabethan life and history buffs.
March 13, 2019
Because of this book I have been scrutinizing the way people walk and whether or not it offends me. For that, I am grateful. On the whole, a light and curious read, but a bit of a bait and switch: almost every chapter discusses standards of acceptable behavior and ends with maybe a page or a paragraph noting that you could offend or insult by doing the opposite. Totally fine, of course, but maybe not what the would-be knave had in mind.
My partner gave me this book because of my interest in the BBC historic farm TV series, which features Goodman, and which I discovered after reading /book/show/4... by Alex Langlands, another expert on the show. Goodman's book suffers from a lot of the same afflictions as Langlands', namely that so much of historical detail is just hard to describe in text. To the extent that behaving badly often involves written and spoken language, Goodman had a slightly easier job than Langlands had in, say, describing thatching techniques, but while the offensively sanctimonious "halting walk" of the Quakers and Puritans came up again and again, I still don't really know what that looks like, and I feel like I need to know this because I mean what if I walk haltingly by accident and I'm offending all kinds of Elizabethan aficionados and time travelers?
My partner gave me this book because of my interest in the BBC historic farm TV series, which features Goodman, and which I discovered after reading /book/show/4... by Alex Langlands, another expert on the show. Goodman's book suffers from a lot of the same afflictions as Langlands', namely that so much of historical detail is just hard to describe in text. To the extent that behaving badly often involves written and spoken language, Goodman had a slightly easier job than Langlands had in, say, describing thatching techniques, but while the offensively sanctimonious "halting walk" of the Quakers and Puritans came up again and again, I still don't really know what that looks like, and I feel like I need to know this because I mean what if I walk haltingly by accident and I'm offending all kinds of Elizabethan aficionados and time travelers?
January 28, 2019
A solid 3.5 stars - I prefer the format and approach of Goodman's previous two books, but the information about Tudor life and personal behavior is fascinating and Goodman's humor and passion for the time period is clear.
September 13, 2019
The grumpus23 (23-word commentary)
Medieval English manners. If you wanted to piss people off back then, do the opposite. Interesting read but bit dry for my liking.
Medieval English manners. If you wanted to piss people off back then, do the opposite. Interesting read but bit dry for my liking.
August 8, 2021
I love Ruth Goodman🤷🏾♀�
My husband introduced me to her British TV shows and I was hooked.
When I saw she had an audio book available from the library I could not resist.
My husband introduced me to her British TV shows and I was hooked.
When I saw she had an audio book available from the library I could not resist.
September 18, 2021
I managed to leave the frustrations of Melbourne lockdown behind me while visiting Renaissance Britain with one of my favourite historians Ruth Goodman this month. In How to Behave Badly in Renaissance Britain, Ruth Goodman covers the many ways in which a person could offend, upset, aggravate and disrespect others in Renaissance Britain, which includes the Stuart and Tudor period. Interestingly, the book has been published under a different title in America, How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England: A Guide for Knaves, Fools, Harlots, Cuckolds, Drunkards, Liars, Thieves, and Braggarts.
The book draws on a range of reference materials, including court records, letters, books, pamphlets and more, and Goodman describes the etiquette and manners of the times, and the way in which those who deviated from what was deemed acceptable or expected behaviour were rude, crass and unpleasant company.
Your dress and bearing immediately indicated your class and social standing, with everyone expected to respect their 'betters'. I continue to be fascinated by the changing fashions and the way in which garments and trends often altered a person's bearing, from the way they held themselves to the way they walked or entered a room. I especially enjoyed the chapter on bowing and curtseying but dearly wished for accompanying images or video footage to demonstrate the movements being described.
The insults were cutting and occasionally amusing, especially the author's favourite "turd in your teeth". Goodman provides interesting insights into the changing meaning of descriptions like knave and swashbuckler and I enjoyed other words from the period including: wastrel, fool, strumpet, drunkard and stinkard.
Chapter 5 covered Disgusting Habits and not much has changed over the centuries when it comes to personal hygiene and revolting habits. Slurping or eating with your mouth open was just as gross then as it is now, and I enjoyed this quote shared by Goodman:
"Sup not loud of thy pottage no time in all thy life.� Boke of Nurture by Hugh Rhodes (Published in 1577)
Having enjoyed watching Ruth Goodman in Tudor Monastery Farm, Victorian Farm, Edwardian Farm, Wartime Farm and Full Steam Ahead, I opted to listen to the audiobook after learning it was narrated by the author herself. Goodman's style and sense of humour flows through the book, however, I noticed that when she's quoting a reference, her voice is louder (and almost shouty) before resuming the regular volume again. At other times, she speaks more softly to emphasise a point, and as a result, I had to continually adjust the volume which greatly impacted my level of enjoyment.
I love learning new things about daily life in different eras, and in How to Behave Badly in Renaissance Britain, it was the importance of shirt tails. How did I not know that the long tails of shirts once acted as a barrier between the body and the trousers, essentially performing the role of underwear (or drawers) for men. Men's shirts reached down to just above the knees with a slit at both sides, so they could be tucked around one's nether regions without impeding movement. As a result, to see a man with his shirt tails hanging out was 'disgusting' and now I understand why!
I enjoyed reading How To Be a Tudor: A Dawn-to-Dusk Guide to Everyday Life by Ruth Goodman back in January 2018 and How to Behave Badly in Renaissance Britain by Ruth Goodman is recommended for those with an interest in social history, etiquette and manners.
The book draws on a range of reference materials, including court records, letters, books, pamphlets and more, and Goodman describes the etiquette and manners of the times, and the way in which those who deviated from what was deemed acceptable or expected behaviour were rude, crass and unpleasant company.
Your dress and bearing immediately indicated your class and social standing, with everyone expected to respect their 'betters'. I continue to be fascinated by the changing fashions and the way in which garments and trends often altered a person's bearing, from the way they held themselves to the way they walked or entered a room. I especially enjoyed the chapter on bowing and curtseying but dearly wished for accompanying images or video footage to demonstrate the movements being described.
The insults were cutting and occasionally amusing, especially the author's favourite "turd in your teeth". Goodman provides interesting insights into the changing meaning of descriptions like knave and swashbuckler and I enjoyed other words from the period including: wastrel, fool, strumpet, drunkard and stinkard.
Chapter 5 covered Disgusting Habits and not much has changed over the centuries when it comes to personal hygiene and revolting habits. Slurping or eating with your mouth open was just as gross then as it is now, and I enjoyed this quote shared by Goodman:
"Sup not loud of thy pottage no time in all thy life.� Boke of Nurture by Hugh Rhodes (Published in 1577)
Having enjoyed watching Ruth Goodman in Tudor Monastery Farm, Victorian Farm, Edwardian Farm, Wartime Farm and Full Steam Ahead, I opted to listen to the audiobook after learning it was narrated by the author herself. Goodman's style and sense of humour flows through the book, however, I noticed that when she's quoting a reference, her voice is louder (and almost shouty) before resuming the regular volume again. At other times, she speaks more softly to emphasise a point, and as a result, I had to continually adjust the volume which greatly impacted my level of enjoyment.
I love learning new things about daily life in different eras, and in How to Behave Badly in Renaissance Britain, it was the importance of shirt tails. How did I not know that the long tails of shirts once acted as a barrier between the body and the trousers, essentially performing the role of underwear (or drawers) for men. Men's shirts reached down to just above the knees with a slit at both sides, so they could be tucked around one's nether regions without impeding movement. As a result, to see a man with his shirt tails hanging out was 'disgusting' and now I understand why!
I enjoyed reading How To Be a Tudor: A Dawn-to-Dusk Guide to Everyday Life by Ruth Goodman back in January 2018 and How to Behave Badly in Renaissance Britain by Ruth Goodman is recommended for those with an interest in social history, etiquette and manners.
April 6, 2020
I thought this was a fantastic idea for a book and a great topic. If I was dumped in the middle of renaissance Britain right now, I could cuss, insult, bad-manner and navigate myself distastefully around many a renaissance encounter, much to the horror of any upstanding citizen of the time!
It was a great audiobook to listen to and wonderfully narrated. It was descriptive, funny and informative to boot and such a topic that wouldn’t normally be featured very heavily in word heavy history texts and books.
I loved the intricate detail of learning about society and manners and Ruth’s enthusiasm for her subject bursts through the pages as it often does with her writings. Loved it!
It was a great audiobook to listen to and wonderfully narrated. It was descriptive, funny and informative to boot and such a topic that wouldn’t normally be featured very heavily in word heavy history texts and books.
I loved the intricate detail of learning about society and manners and Ruth’s enthusiasm for her subject bursts through the pages as it often does with her writings. Loved it!
June 15, 2021
The title is a bit of a tease. This is mostly about proper etiquette. Behaving badly is just doing that poorly. The most interesting bits are about clothing, greetings, and walking. High-class people spent years learning how to walk and hold their body correctly. Poor people could never possibly have time to learn to do it properly. And the customs changed several times during the interesting times covered here. So very much change was afoot. What you wore and how you spoke could "out" you as rich or poor, Protestant or Catholic, Royalist or anti. Quakers really upset the system by treating everyone as equal, calling even their social betters "thee" instead of "you".
December 20, 2023
Review to follow.
October 25, 2018
Whilst this book does have some laugh out loud funny moments in it, especially the archaic insults, I didn't think it made for the best general reading material. I do, however, think this would be an invaluable source for any writer or historian looking into the Elizabethan era.
The author has done quite a lot of intensive research on her subject matter and little is left out in this book. If you are looking for a good source of information and insights into how to be a bit unruly in the bygone era, this book will offer you everything you are looking for and more.
I thought it was fun and loaded with facts and tidbits that I want to use for later purposes. I'd definitely recommend it to other authors.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
The author has done quite a lot of intensive research on her subject matter and little is left out in this book. If you are looking for a good source of information and insights into how to be a bit unruly in the bygone era, this book will offer you everything you are looking for and more.
I thought it was fun and loaded with facts and tidbits that I want to use for later purposes. I'd definitely recommend it to other authors.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
May 21, 2020
I love books like this. In the spirit of, “The past is another country. They do things differently there.� Books like this help us to understand better not just how they lived in other times but how they thought and all of it is very interesting to me.
Of course, before you can understand how to misbehave in England during the 16th and 17th centuries, you need to understand how to behave properly. This book is really about all aspects of behavior, morality, and etiquette in that time period, how it was different from today, and how it was the same. Our modern world grew out of that one, after all.
If you like this sort of deep dive into everyday life during a past era, you’ll have a good time here.
Of course, before you can understand how to misbehave in England during the 16th and 17th centuries, you need to understand how to behave properly. This book is really about all aspects of behavior, morality, and etiquette in that time period, how it was different from today, and how it was the same. Our modern world grew out of that one, after all.
If you like this sort of deep dive into everyday life during a past era, you’ll have a good time here.
November 16, 2020
I can't wait for time travel to be invented so I can go back to Reinassance Britain and offend every single living human within a 100 mile radius. I really, really enjoyed this book. I love how technical and well researched it is. Yes, please take four pages to explain to me the particularities of one single hand gesture used by certain people from a certain social class in a certain environment at a certain moment of the day. This is the type of non-fiction that I live for. I need all of this knowledge to be embedded in my brain. Now. Fully recommended for a fun ride.
September 19, 2020
Excellent research. The author's claims about morae, social presence, and attitudes of the 16th and 17th centuries seem farfetched at times, BUT then, she exemplifies them with a reading from a primary source, a play scene or character, a poem, or a popular caricature.
Since I listened to the book in the car, I was unable to practice the postures, stances, and walk styles that she describes in detail.
Since I listened to the book in the car, I was unable to practice the postures, stances, and walk styles that she describes in detail.
March 5, 2019
What is says on the cover.
An interesting look at social behaviour in England from the Tudors through to the Stuart period.
Interesting and informative.
An interesting look at social behaviour in England from the Tudors through to the Stuart period.
Interesting and informative.
May 15, 2019
With lots of great information, this was actually a fascinating book, sadly it is dry as toast, so it made it very hard to get through.
September 28, 2024
This was a fine read, but it didn't grab me as much as I was hoping to. Interesting as a reference if you were thinking of creating something set in this time period, and the writing style is decently engaging, but I ended up thinking this was just OK.
November 14, 2018
I received this book as a ŷ giveaway. Thank you.
An interesting subject, but it could have been better organized and written. I was very surprised at how dry it was given the subject matter. The only reason I finished it was because I felt obligated to finish it given I won it in a giveaway and I had to reach out to ŷ to even receive it.
I guess if you are obsessed with all things Tudor [and Elizabethan England is a misnomer in the title] or are doing research for a romance novel, this is a great book for you. Just be prepared to fight falling eyelids.
An interesting subject, but it could have been better organized and written. I was very surprised at how dry it was given the subject matter. The only reason I finished it was because I felt obligated to finish it given I won it in a giveaway and I had to reach out to ŷ to even receive it.
I guess if you are obsessed with all things Tudor [and Elizabethan England is a misnomer in the title] or are doing research for a romance novel, this is a great book for you. Just be prepared to fight falling eyelids.
August 21, 2021
I've spent a lot of the pandemic watching Goodman's gently monotonous TV history shows in which she and two colleagues try to live on a (Victorian|Tudor|Edwardian|etc.) farm. There's always some food that sounds gross but isn't so bad after all, pigs escaping, some sort of complicated craft like cheesemaking or trapping fish in baskets, and a harvest threatened by rain. But the shows are always fun because they're such good sports. Goodman most of all--she'll try anything. Elizabethan tampons? Sure, why not.
This book is in the same spirit but I found it a little disengaging because she tried to divide the material into discrete sections, but they all turn out to overlap.
It would make a great companion for someone about to take a deep dive into Shakespeare because it really explains so many of the jokes in his plays--reading this makes me appreciate him more as a comedian of manners! I remember the first time I encountered Shakespeare in school, we read the first scene of Romeo and Juliet and the teacher had to explain what all the pushing into or away from the wall was about. This book explains so many of the jokes and personifications in the plays, the ways people are finicky or pushy or self-aggrandizing. Sometimes Goodman makes those connections, but I could make lots more myself.
This book is in the same spirit but I found it a little disengaging because she tried to divide the material into discrete sections, but they all turn out to overlap.
It would make a great companion for someone about to take a deep dive into Shakespeare because it really explains so many of the jokes in his plays--reading this makes me appreciate him more as a comedian of manners! I remember the first time I encountered Shakespeare in school, we read the first scene of Romeo and Juliet and the teacher had to explain what all the pushing into or away from the wall was about. This book explains so many of the jokes and personifications in the plays, the ways people are finicky or pushy or self-aggrandizing. Sometimes Goodman makes those connections, but I could make lots more myself.
December 8, 2018
"A turd in your teeth!"?? The insults fly fast in this amusing survey of Tudor rudeness and bad behavior. Along the way, you might learn some good manners as well - although manners are notoriously changeable from one family/neighborhood/country to another. What plays in France might not go down so well in rural England. Ruth Goodman writes in a brisk and witty way as she describes how the Tudors kept themselves clean, behaved at table, fought, danced and got on in the world. If you enjoy this, as I did, do take a look at her TV show (on YouTube) Called Tudor Farm, where she and two other historians run a farm for a year using only period tools and utensils. Armchair time travel!
January 3, 2025
Audio |
Started out cute then drained the life out of me. I ‘listened� to 3/4 of this book at 2x speed and was still extremely bored.
I feel slightly bad for this review only because I probably should have known this wouldn’t be up my alley.
Started out cute then drained the life out of me. I ‘listened� to 3/4 of this book at 2x speed and was still extremely bored.
I feel slightly bad for this review only because I probably should have known this wouldn’t be up my alley.
October 9, 2018
I’m sure that you’ve actually heard (or seen) the quote from Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, a Pulitzer Prize winning historian who said “well-behaved women seldom make history�. And yes, it is true � history would be a very dry and proper read were it not for the shock value, cleverness and abject disrespect shown by those who choose to flaunt convention, making their point of disagreement, using behavior that is far removed from the power-broker’s demands for propriety, speech or ‘respect� shown by deed and act. In fact, Goodman herself states that “for it is those who push against the boundaries of cultural etiquette who most accurately define where the lines are drawn. It is easy to dismiss, for example, the role of bowing in the smooth running of society until you encounter the few who refused to make the gesture�. For it is the rebels and their willful disregard of customs of polite speech, manners and behavior that truly shows us the cracks in the power-brokers control of situations, people and governments.
Full of lively and lovely bits of phrasing, explanations of the rise and demise of words used to insult, the actual deleterious effect that the word arse or even fool had in the day � and how those words, and accompanying gestures, posturing and even refusal of acknowledgment went far further in undermining both the sense of self and the reputation of the besmirched. With a guide to combining insults for greater effect, how to drawings for gestures, and various examples taken from legal proceedings and news items � this is a book for the purely curious (me), to those looking to author stories set in the era. Research is impeccable and Goodman’s writing style could easily become addicting: clear explanations with examples, instances and even some humor added � this is a little gem of a title that if you are planning on an examination of Shakespeare, or simply want to amuse yourself with some new trivia � you’ll want to have it.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Full of lively and lovely bits of phrasing, explanations of the rise and demise of words used to insult, the actual deleterious effect that the word arse or even fool had in the day � and how those words, and accompanying gestures, posturing and even refusal of acknowledgment went far further in undermining both the sense of self and the reputation of the besmirched. With a guide to combining insults for greater effect, how to drawings for gestures, and various examples taken from legal proceedings and news items � this is a book for the purely curious (me), to those looking to author stories set in the era. Research is impeccable and Goodman’s writing style could easily become addicting: clear explanations with examples, instances and even some humor added � this is a little gem of a title that if you are planning on an examination of Shakespeare, or simply want to amuse yourself with some new trivia � you’ll want to have it.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
June 13, 2024
A fun read and informative above everything else.
I loved the effects that bad behaviour provoked and how some of those behaviours changed into the cherries on top of our culture. From insults to gestures to even the way we introduce ourselves to other people.
And I agree with the author, "A turd on your teeth" sounds better than "Eat shit".
I loved the effects that bad behaviour provoked and how some of those behaviours changed into the cherries on top of our culture. From insults to gestures to even the way we introduce ourselves to other people.
And I agree with the author, "A turd on your teeth" sounds better than "Eat shit".
August 28, 2018
A delight for historians and history buffs
Bawdy is an adjective often associated with the Elizabethan era, but just what did it mean to “behave badly�? In her meticulously researched book, author Ruth Goodman explores all the many ways to give offense, deliberately or unintentionally, in the time of the Renaissance.
Compared to our time, the Elizabethan era was a much more stratified society, and “people in positions of authority wanted to see social structures acted out in the behaviors around them.� They valued acknowledgments of reputation and status far more than we do and as a result had many more artificial conventions and obligatory small public performances of respect. It was not enough to bow or doff one’s hat to acknowledge someone’s status; the action must be performed according to a specific paradigm or it could be judged as offensive as omitting the action entirely.
In such a society there were MANY ways to offend, either from ignorance or disdain or, as in the case of the Quakers, as a matter of principle. I had not realized that “thee� and “thou�, which had previously been used as the familiar pronouns between equals and intimates, had fallen into disfavor and tended to be signs of disrespect. The Quakers used it as a symbol that we are all equal in the eyes of God, which, of course, enraged many of their contemporaries.
Giving offense was not necessarily without serious consequences. Even verbal insults could land you in court, and a woman might think twice about cursing a neighbor---if her curse was then followed by misfortune for her neighbor, she could be (and sometimes was) charged with witchcraft.
Not everything has changed, and personal actions like spitting, blowing one’s nose, and farting also were considered behavior to be controlled. The standards were rather different, though. Spitting was considered healthy, and swallowing one’s spit was unseemly.
The comprehensive exploration of requirements of Elizabethan society was both the strength and weakness of the book. It was amazing to read the requirements for a proper bow in various circumstances and even which hand should be used to hold your hat when you doff it, but at the same time I tended to say “Enough� before the author finished describing the elaborate details. Confirmed history buffs will probably binge-read this compendium of Elizabethan standards and how to flaunt them. Others will probably enjoy it more by picking it up and reading a chapter at a time and marveling at how times have changed ... and how they have stayed the same. I would love to see what a writer 400 years from now would say about the conventions of our own age.
My thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an Advance Review Copy of this book
Bawdy is an adjective often associated with the Elizabethan era, but just what did it mean to “behave badly�? In her meticulously researched book, author Ruth Goodman explores all the many ways to give offense, deliberately or unintentionally, in the time of the Renaissance.
Compared to our time, the Elizabethan era was a much more stratified society, and “people in positions of authority wanted to see social structures acted out in the behaviors around them.� They valued acknowledgments of reputation and status far more than we do and as a result had many more artificial conventions and obligatory small public performances of respect. It was not enough to bow or doff one’s hat to acknowledge someone’s status; the action must be performed according to a specific paradigm or it could be judged as offensive as omitting the action entirely.
In such a society there were MANY ways to offend, either from ignorance or disdain or, as in the case of the Quakers, as a matter of principle. I had not realized that “thee� and “thou�, which had previously been used as the familiar pronouns between equals and intimates, had fallen into disfavor and tended to be signs of disrespect. The Quakers used it as a symbol that we are all equal in the eyes of God, which, of course, enraged many of their contemporaries.
Giving offense was not necessarily without serious consequences. Even verbal insults could land you in court, and a woman might think twice about cursing a neighbor---if her curse was then followed by misfortune for her neighbor, she could be (and sometimes was) charged with witchcraft.
Not everything has changed, and personal actions like spitting, blowing one’s nose, and farting also were considered behavior to be controlled. The standards were rather different, though. Spitting was considered healthy, and swallowing one’s spit was unseemly.
The comprehensive exploration of requirements of Elizabethan society was both the strength and weakness of the book. It was amazing to read the requirements for a proper bow in various circumstances and even which hand should be used to hold your hat when you doff it, but at the same time I tended to say “Enough� before the author finished describing the elaborate details. Confirmed history buffs will probably binge-read this compendium of Elizabethan standards and how to flaunt them. Others will probably enjoy it more by picking it up and reading a chapter at a time and marveling at how times have changed ... and how they have stayed the same. I would love to see what a writer 400 years from now would say about the conventions of our own age.
My thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an Advance Review Copy of this book
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