A History of Everyday Things in England: 1066–1499 - Marjorie & C.H.B. Quennell, Sixth Impression, 1931

There’s something irresistibly charming about the Quennells’ books, the way they turn history into something lived, textured, and wonderfully human. This 1931 edition of A History of Everyday Things in England takes you deep into the medieval world, not through kings and battles, but through the small, ordinary details: food, clothing, crafts, travel, farming, castles, ornament, and everyday life between 1066 and 1499.

The cloth-bound cover, printed in deep navy against warm linen, is a piece of art in itself,those stylised medieval figures holding hands, the tiny details, the typography. Inside, the book is filled with beautiful illustrations by the Quennells: colour plates, black-and-white drawings, charts, and diagrams that make the past feel tangible and close.

This copy holds a little extra soul: a handwritten school prize label from Midsummer, 1934, awarded for “Top Place” in special examinations. A small but lovely glimpse into the life of the student who treasured this book almost a century ago.

Details:
– Sixth impression, February 1931
– Published by B.T. Batsford, London
– Written & illustrated by Marjorie & C.H.B. Quennell
– Linen cloth cover with navy printed design
– Includes colour plates and detailed line drawings
– Vintage school prize label dated 1934
– Age-related foxing and gentle wear, as expected for its age, full of character