How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England: A Guide for Knaves, Fools, Harlots, Cuckolds, Drunkards, Liars, Thieves, and Braggarts

Ruth Goodman

Oct 2018 · Liveright Publishing

About this ebook

Offensive language, insolent behavior, slights, brawls, and scandals come alive in Ruth Goodman’s uproarious history for mischievous Anglophiles.

With this “impeccable” (BBC History) chronicle, acclaimed popular historian Ruth Goodman reveals a Renaissance Britain particularly rank with troublemakers. From snooty needlers who took aim with a cutting “thee,” to lowbrow drunkards with revolting table manners, Goodman’s “gleeful and illuminating” (Booklist, starred review) portrait of offenses most foul draws upon advice manuals, court cases, and sermons. Wicked readers will delight in learning why quoting Shakespeare was poor form, and why curses hurled at women were almost always about sex (no surprise there). “Accessible, fun, and historically accurate” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), How to Behave Badly is a celebration of one of history’s naughtiest periods, when derision was an art form.

“Oh, how I wish Ruth Goodman could be my tutor. But settling in for one of her history lessons is better than second best.” — Alicia Becker, New York Times Book Review

Ratings and reviews

I’m sure that you’ve actually heard (or seen) the quote from Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, a Pulitzer Prize winning historian who said “well-behaved women seldom make history”. And yes, it is true – history would be a very dry and proper read were it not for the shock value, cleverness and abject disrespect shown by those who choose to flaunt convention, making their point of disagreement, using behavior that is far removed from the power-broker’s demands for propriety, speech or ‘respect’ shown by deed and act. In fact, Goodman herself states that “for it is those who push against the boundaries of cultural etiquette who most accurately define where the lines are drawn. It is easy to dismiss, for example, the role of bowing in the smooth running of society until you encounter the few who refused to make the gesture’. For it is the rebels and their willful disregard of customs of polite speech, manners and behavior that truly shows us the cracks in the power-brokers control of situations, people and governments. Full of lively and lovely bits of phrasing, explanations of the rise and demise of words used to insult, the actual deleterious effect that the word arse or even fool had in the day – and how those words, and accompanying gestures, posturing and even refusal of acknowledgment went far further in undermining both the sense of self and the reputation of the besmirched. With a guide to combining insults for greater effect, how to drawings for gestures, and various examples taken from legal proceedings and news items – this is a book for the purely curious (me), to those looking to author stories set in the era. Research is impeccable and Goodman’s writing style could easily become addicting: clear explanations with examples, instances and even some humor added – this is a little gem of a title that if you are planning on an examination of Shakespeare, or simply want to amuse yourself with some new trivia – you’ll want to have it. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

About the author

Ruth Goodman is the author of multiple books including How to Be a Victorian. An historian of British life, she has presented a number of BBC television series, including Tudor Monastery Farm. She lives in the United Kingdom.