Shipping Through the Holidays β˜€οΈπŸ“¦

Boxing Day Sale is live! Up to 20% off 2000+ Books

At Day's Close

A History of Nighttime
3.7 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 1,495 ratings, 219 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
At Day's Close by Professor A. Roger Ekirch delves into the intriguing history of nighttime from the late medieval to the early modern period in Western Europe. The book explores how darkness influenced daily life, society, and culture, revealing a world transformed once the sun set. This historical narrative sheds light on social customs, beliefs, and the human experience in a pre-industrial nighttime.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of At Day's Close. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the intimate details of pre-industrial society, especially the profound impact of darkness on human life. It offers an intriguing exploration of the cultural and social behaviours shaped by nighttime in the early modern period, providing a fresh perspective on history and daily life.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

At Day's Close

A fascinating and colourful social history of the nighttime.
'A wonderful revelation of a vanished age of darkness' SPECTATOR

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A fascinating and colourful social history of the nighttime.

'A wonderful revelation of a vanished age of darkness' SPECTATOR

'Fascinating' SUNDAY TIMES

'A splendid book ... great entertainment' Sir Patrick Moore

'A triumph of social history. Almost every page contains something to surprise the reader ... one of the most enjoyable literary experiences of the year' MAIL ON SUNDAY

From blanket fairs to night kings, curfews to crime, At Day's Close is an intriguing and captivating investigation into the night. Until now, this rich and complex universe in which we spend nearly half of our lives was a world long-lost to historians.

Here, Ekirch explores how the night was lived in the past, through travel accounts, memoirs, letters, folklore, poems, court records and coroner's reports. More than this, it is a passionate argument in the case for less artificial light in an increasingly bright world.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

At Day's Close by Professor A. Roger Ekirch is praised for its meticulous research and engaging narrative that explores the overlooked history of night-time and its social significance from the late Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution. Reviewers appreciate its rich collection of esoteric information and fascinating tales, providing a unique perspective on the past's mysterious and often perilous night hours. The book is celebrated as both an entertaining and informative work that redeems the neglected subject of night in social history.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781474624916

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 April 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Illustration: 71

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 40.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 420g

Pages: 480

About the Author

Professor A. Roger Ekirch was born in 1950 in America. He teaches at Virginia Tech. On the basis of his research into the nighttime, Ekirch was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship.

More from History & Military

View all

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.