This book describes the everyday life of men, women and children in the Middle Ages. The author reveals unusual and surprising aspects as she explains the use of bedrooms, used during the day to receive guests, dine, study; the many dangers faced by children as they were growing up and the fantasy games they played; the adventures of devotional travel. The books touches upon infants wrapped up like mummies, lack of hygiene, foolish wet nurses, the difficulty of learning to read and write, erudite nuns , endangered wayfarers, shifty inns, and the ever-lurking devil.

Chiara Frugoni formerly taught Medieval History at the Universities of Pisa, Rome and Paris.