The Domesday Cows
1086, near Chester, in the border territory between England and Wales, Nora, twelve-year-old daughter of the village thane, is horrified when her mother plots to marry her sister to a Norman. Because the Normans are horrible: they killed her grandparents; they made her parents poor. Why on earth would you want to marry one?
So opens a comedic romp, peppered with farcical animal escapes and jokes relating to bottoms. As Nora fights to save her sister, she becomes embroiled with Domesday assessors, Welsh bandits, the Earl of Chester, and a recalcitrant cow named Mildrith – not to be confused with Mildryth, Nora’s mother. But make no mistake: behind the chaos, the stakes are life and death.
Despite the comedy, this story is underpinned by sound historical understanding. Similes and daily habits are period-appropriate, helping create the historical setting. For instance, when Nora struggles to control her temper, rather than count to ten, she recites the Pater Noster. The well-educated household servant is Welsh. As the adventure progresses, Nora gets caught in deadly three-way friction between English, Norman and Welsh.
Think of the BBC TV sitcom Allo ‘Allo! set in 1940s occupied France, but for middle graders, set in 11th-century England. It’s a fun read – not only for kids – but the story forms an effective introduction to the realities of 11th-century Anglo Norman life. Recommended.
