A MEDIEVAL FEAST

by Aliki ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1983

A forgettable byway for Aliki. With an illustrational style not especially suited to minuscule depictions of medieval panoply (unlike, say, Anita Lobel's), and no distinct information to impart or specific process to illustrate (unlike Mummies Made in Egypt), this is like lots of other people's pageants-of-medieval-life: more a picture-book in format than most, less useful at the age when this particular interest arises. The idea here is to illustrate, via rough approximations of manuscript illuminations, the preparations for a feast--at ""Candenton Manor""--for the King and his party. Even so, there is little of the clarity and precision that one finds in Aliki's science books. ""Grains were ground into flour. . . and baked into trenchers and other breads. Butter was churned, cheese was made, and ale and wines were ready in the brew house."" There is also mighty little originality--few transforming Aliki touches. A couple of illustrations of exotic foods, and of the medievals' uncouth table manners, should bring smiles; the rest is conventional historicism.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1983

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Crowell

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1983

Categories: CHILDREN'S