The Paston Letters: a Window on Late Medieval England

Pre-requisites for enrolment

None.

Content of Course

The course will begin by introducing students to the history of fifteenth-century England, and to the context of the Paston family and their letters. Each class will then use the letters, complemented by other primary sources, as a basis for exploring the theme of that week, including:

1. The rise of the Paston family and their political ties.

2. The Paston family during the reign of Edward IV.

3. The social context of the letters: family relations, love and marriage.

4. The social context of the letters: parents and children.

Teaching method(s)

There are several printed editions of the Paston Letters, as well as a useful selection in modern spelling that is widely available, so students will have an opportunity to engage in depth with primary sources. Students will also view digital images of the original letters (although palaeographical skills are not required).

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Describe the Pastons’ role in local and national politics, including their involvement in the Wars of the Roses;

• Use the Paston Letters as a starting point to gain a broader understanding of life in fifteenth-century England;

• Assess critically the significance of late medieval social attitudes, including perceptions of gender;

• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Paston Letters as a source for medieval history.

Sources

Core Readings

Recommended:

• Barber, R., ed., 1981. The Pastons: A Family in the Wars of the Roses. Reprint 2004. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press. 

• Bennett, H.S., 1932. The Pastons and Their England. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 

• Castor, H., 2004. Blood and Roses: The Paston Family in the Fifteenth Century. London: Faber and Faber. 

• Davis, N., ed., 1963. The Paston Letters: A Selection in Modern Spelling. Reprint 2008. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 

• Watt, D., ed., 2004. The Paston Women: Selected Letters. Cambridge: D.S. Brewer. 

Web Sources

http://www.medievalfamilylife.amdigital.co.uk.ezproxy.is.ed.ac.uk

Medieval Family Life

http://www.thisispaston.co.uk

Paston: Places and People

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.