The Time Traveller's Guide to Restoration Britain

The Time Traveller's Guide to Restoration Britain transports readers to England between 1660-1700, a period marked by plague, fire, and political transformation. This historical guide takes the perspective of a present-day visitor experiencing the sights, sounds, and daily realities of life during the Restoration period. Through vivid details and extensive research, author Ian Mortimer examines aspects of 17th century society including food, clothing, medicine, entertainment, travel, and social customs. He covers both urban and rural life, exploring everything from the architecture of London to the conditions in village alehouses. The book presents history through the lens of lived experience, focusing on how ordinary people navigated their world rather than solely on major events and notable figures. Documents, diaries, and contemporary accounts provide the foundation for recreating this complex period. This unique approach to historical writing challenges traditional academic perspectives by emphasizing sensory details and practical concerns over political narratives. The immersive format raises questions about how people adapt to social change and how past societies compare to our modern world.

Readers describe this as an engaging social history that brings 1660s-1700s Britain to life through vivid details about daily experiences - from hygiene to food to entertainment. Many note it reads more like an immersive travel guide than a traditional history text. Likes: - Specific details about prices, wages, and living conditions - Coverage of both upper and lower class experiences - Clear organization by topic (clothing, medicine, travel, etc.) - Inclusion of primary sources and contemporary accounts Dislikes: - Too much focus on London vs. other regions - Sometimes repetitive information - Dense statistical sections slow the pace - Less engaging than author's medieval guide book Ratings: Goodreads: 4.05/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (450+ ratings) "Like having a expert tour guide walk you through the era" - Amazon reviewer "Mortimer excels at helping readers understand how daily life actually felt" - Goodreads review "Gets bogged down in data at times but worth pushing through" - LibraryThing review

How to Be a Tudor by Ruth Goodman This guide to daily life in Tudor England reveals the mechanics of everything from table manners to hygiene practices through primary source research and historical records.

How to Be a Victorian by Ruth Goodman The text presents a minute-by-minute chronicle of Victorian daily life, from morning routines to workday practices to evening entertainment.

London: A Travel Guide Through Time by Matthew Green Six walks through London's history transport readers to specific time periods, examining the streets, sounds, and inhabitants of the city across centuries.

Life in a Medieval City by Joseph, Frances Gies The book reconstructs the daily operations of a medieval city through the examination of 13th-century Troyes, France.

A Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer This immersive guide places readers in 14th-century England, detailing the sights, sounds, smells, and practices of medieval life.

🕰️ The book covers a very specific period of British history: 1660-1700, encompassing the reigns of Charles II, James II, and William III & Mary II. 🎭 During the period covered by the book, theaters reopened after being banned under Puritan rule, leading to the first legal female actors on the English stage. 📚 Author Ian Mortimer pioneered the "Time Traveller's Guide" format, writing similar guides for Medieval England (1300s) and Elizabethan England (1500s). ☕ The book details how coffee houses became social hubs during this period, with London alone having over 80 coffee houses by 1663, serving as venues for news, gossip, and business dealings. 🔬 The Restoration period saw the founding of the Royal Society (1660), marking a crucial moment in the development of modern scientific methodology and research.