The Doomsday Book

Books are better for me on research this one has it all listed.

This book is nothing like the title would lead you to believe. It is the records of a English census taken way back when. It is in affect a ledger of everyone in England, what they have, and who they are beholden to. It provides an interesting insight to what people had and valued. It isn't hard to imagine what life would be like during that time. It isn't a novel and it is easy to pick up any time to learn a little something new.

This beautiflly illustrated book presents England's geography and heritage from a unique persepctive: the Domesday Book. The book starts with an essay on the Domesday Book, complete with keys to reading and understanding an entry in the Domesday Book. The main part of the book is divided into 37 counties. Each section begins with a general survey of the county followed by short essays on individual areas that were chosen for their social and geographical diversity. The essays are tied to their original Domesday entries. A county gazeteer follows which lists the Domesday settlements alphabetically by their modern spelling. Each entry summarizes the Domesday information and includes, wherever possible, information on the settlement's history and present status. The book includes over 12,500 entries, hundreds of photographs and line drawings, a glossary and mini biographies of almost 200 major landholders at the time the survey was taken. A wonderful book for medieval history lovers!

The book contains a very good summary of each English Shire covered by the Domesday Survey. Each Shire contains map and a focus on several towns, as well as, a list of all place names found in the survey. There is also a glossary of terms, a list of important personages, and plenty of pictures of landscape and architecture.