The Babees Book

"The Babees Book" is a fascinating collection of medieval courtesy books and treatises on manners, translated and edited for modern readers. This work offers an intimate look into the social expectations and daily lives of children in the Middle Ages, particularly those of the noble and upper classes. By compiling various historical manuscripts, including the famous title poem and other early English texts, the book provides detailed instructions on everything from table manners and proper speech to personal hygiene and moral conduct.

Through its pages, readers gain insight into the educational foundations of medieval society, where the cultivation of "courtesy" was considered essential for social advancement. The collection includes diverse works such as "The Boke of Curtasye" and "Urbanitatis," showcasing the linguistic and cultural shifts of the period. This volume serves as an invaluable resource for historians, educators, and anyone interested in the development of Western social customs and the history of childhood. Edith Rickert's scholarly attention preserves the charm and instructional value of these early texts while making them accessible to a broader audience.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.