English Wayfaring Life in the Middle Ages (xivth Century)

A historical account written in the late 19th century. The text examines the lifestyles and journeys of various travelers during the fourteenth century in England, focusing particularly on the nomadic aspects of life that have often been overlooked in historical narratives. It aims to reconstruct daily life for ordinary people, detailing the interactions and exchanges that took place among those who roamed the roads of medieval England. The opening of the work sets the stage for this exploration by contrasting the preserved histories of ancient civilizations, like Egypt and Rome, with our lost understanding of medieval life, particularly that of the common man. Jusserand emphasizes the importance of historical documents over literary embellishments, proposing that through careful study of records, we can recover the narratives of daily existences. He outlines the intent behind the book: to systematically investigate the roles of different types of wayfarers—pedlars, pilgrims, friars, and the like—and the cultural exchange they fostered during an era of significant societal change in England.