Just like in the movies, mammoth castles and armored knights were parts of life in England in the thirteenth century. But European medieval culture was so much more than these romantic props. Readers of this enthralling book will encounter a leper, merchant, blacksmith, knight, and others who offer many facts about medieval life, like what it took to become a knight and how a doctor tried to cure illnesses back then. Photographs of weaponry, art, and castles augment the appealing design of this historic snapshot of a fascinating time period.