Too Much, Too Young: Children of the Middle Ages, BBC Four

Too Much, Too Young: Children of the Middle Ages, BBC Four | reviews, news & interviews

Too Much, Too Young: Children of the Middle Ages, BBC Four

The lives of medieval children were frustratingly distant from this documentary

by Kieron TylerThursday, 25 August 2011

'Too Much, Too Young''s Dr Stephen Baxter. A rare moment at rest

Although billed as “a fresh look at the Middle Ages through the eyes of children”, presenter Dr Stephen Baxter had to admit the bulk of historic evidence for how medieval children lived their lives was written by adults. Unfiltered accounts from a child’s perspective are rare. Poring over the 1086 Domesday Book, the census of who, what and where, he noted that children aren’t mentioned. Evoking the barely known is a hard log to roll, and this frustrating programme barely nudged it along.

Explore topics

Share this article

...

Permalink Submitted by danny mercer (not verified) on Thu, 25/08/2011 - 13:36

dear sir, i saw an advert for this programme ( too much too young .. ) and really enjoyed the graphic design of text which cast a shadow that made it appear to float on parchment, I have tried a google search but cannot find any reference to this so I can see it again, please can you help ? even a screen capture of this introduction would be appreciated, thank you, danny

...

Permalink Submitted by graeme.thomson on Thu, 25/08/2011 - 14:59

Dear Danny, You can watch the programme again here, which may help: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/

I was frustrated by the lack

Permalink Submitted by Erica Johnson (not verified) on Mon, 24/06/2019 - 02:47

I was frustrated by the lack of infiormation on girls. Boys became adults at 12. What about girls? Amongst the servants would have been several adolescent boys. No girls? Boys were taken into monasteries as oblates. Were girls taken into convents? One girl is mentioned In the painting of children playing. Otherwise the only girl is Margaret Beaufort.

I’m shocked at the failure to

Permalink Submitted by Elizabeth (not verified) on Wed, 26/06/2019 - 08:55

I’m shocked at the failure to even mention girls. They were completely forgotten in this programme which ruined it for me. Dr. Baxter should be ashamed of himself.

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

more TV

10 Questions for Mark Gatiss, writer-director of 'A Ghost Story for Christmas: Woman of Stone' Gatiss explains why his eerie tale begins with its original Victorian-Edwardian author Edith Nesbit

All Creatures Great and Small, Christmas Special, Channel 5 review - Mrs Hall steps into the spotlight Everyday saga of Yorkshire vets does exactly what it says on the tin

Death in Paradise Christmas Special, BBC One review - who killed Santa Claus? Don Gilet steps into the detective's shoes on the island of Saint Marie

Strike: The Ink Black Heart, BBC One review - protracted, convoluted puzzler lifted by its leads The army veteran and his partner are still trapped in a detective-genre script

Black Doves, Netflix review - Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw battle against the implausible Can anyone be trusted in Joe Barton's twisty London drama?

Senna, Netflix review - the life and legend of Brazil's greatest driver You saw the movie, now watch the TV series

Landman, Paramount+ review - once upon a time in the West Billy Bob Thornton stars in Taylor Sheridan's Texas oil drama

Paris Has Fallen, Prime Video review - Afghan war veteran wreaks a terrible vengeance Cynical politicians and amoral arms dealers feel the heat

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, BBC One review - handsome finale for Hilary Mantel adaptation Mark Rylance is on top form as his Thomas Cromwell re-emerges after nine years

The Day of the Jackal, Sky Atlantic review - Frederick Forsyth's assassin gets a modern-day makeover Eddie Redmayne shoots to kill in lavish 10-part drama

Until I Kill You, ITV1 review - superb performances in a frustrating true-crime story Anna Maxwell Martin and Shaun Evans are compelling, but the script needs more ballast

Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Disney+ review - the Boss grows older defiantly Thom Zimny's film reels in 50 years of New Jersey's most famous export

Follow @theartsdesk