A rather good kid's book

[bunnyjadwiga]

On, of course, privies etc.:
Loos through the Ages, Richard Wood. (Hove, England: Wayland, 1997)

This is a great book, even though it is targetted at younger readers. I should probably try and get a copy through ABE books. Among other things, it has excellent clear pictures of the roman latrines at Hadrian's Baths & at Housteads, as well as a pciture of the loo seat from Yorvik (and the 1000-year-old scat), an extant piss-pot, and the close stool from Hampton court palace. A good quote:

Castle cesspits could be dangerous places. In 1184, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa of Germany met with his nobles at Erfurt Castle. So many of them followed him when he went into the garderobe to use the loo that the floor gave way. The Emperor grabbed the iron window bars and saved himself, but many others fell to an unpleasant death. When King Edward II of England lost the crown in 1327, he is said to have been tortured in the stinking garderobe pit of Berkeley Castle. (p. 15)

Comments

[amaebi.livejournal.com]

Oh, now I want that book for the Chun man!

BTW, doesn't that Ferderick Barbarossa adventure seem like a Presage of his eventual death?

[bunnyjadwiga.livejournal.com]

BTW, doesn't that Ferderick Barbarossa adventure seem like a Presage of his eventual death?

Yes... it does. Wow!

[strawberrykaren.livejournal.com]

By the way, you've seen this 12th century toilet seat, right?

[bunnyjadwiga.livejournal.com]

Thank you, thank you. That's the picture I needed a link to!

[iasmin.livejournal.com]

My search of preference is Bookfinder.com, which includes not only ABE but just about every other used and new bookstore on the planet, it seems.