Is 'At Day'S Close: Night In Times Past' Based On A True Story?

2025-06-15 22:11:13 82

3 answers

Yara
Yara
2025-06-16 07:46:44
As someone who devours historical books like candy, I can confirm 'At Day's Close: Night in Times Past' isn't a novel with fictional characters. It's a meticulously researched non-fiction work by A. Roger Ekirch that explores how people experienced nighttime before electricity. The author dug through centuries of diaries, court records, and folklore to paint this vivid picture of nocturnal life. You'll find zero made-up protagonists here—just raw, fascinating truths about how darkness shaped human behavior. The book reveals how night was both feared and cherished, from superstitious peasants to candlelit aristocrats. It's like a time machine to an era when sunset truly meant the end of daylight activities.
Isaac
Isaac
2025-06-20 16:55:23
Let me geek out about this book for a moment. 'At Day's Close' isn't just based on true stories—it reconstructs entire centuries of nighttime history using primary sources most people never access. Ekirch spent years combing through 17th-century court transcripts where witnesses described stumbling home drunk in pitch-black streets, or medieval medical texts warning against 'night air.' The book proves something wild: humans used to sleep in two shifts, waking for midnight conversations or prayers before dozing off again.

What makes it feel like a thriller is the danger aspect. Without streetlights, nighttime was lawless—highwaymen, witches allegedly roaming forests, even gangs of aristocratic youths causing chaos for fun. The author cites actual police reports about criminals disguising their voices in darkness. You also get beautiful contrasts, like scholars writing poetry by moonlight or lovers meeting secretly after curfew bells. It's academic but reads like discovering a lost world.
Wyatt
Wyatt
2025-06-21 12:46:40
Think 'At Day's Close' is some dry textbook? Nah. This thing reads like your great-great-grandma's secret diary got mixed with a detective's case files. Every page has eerie real-life details: how people navigated using glowworm jars, why night watchmen carried lanterns on 10-foot poles, or how burglars learned to mimic owls as signals. The 'true story' element hits hardest with personal accounts—parents writing about kids terrified of bedtime shadows, or drunkards falling into pigsties.

The book destroys modern myths too. Turns out 'burning the midnight oil' was rare because candle wax cost a fortune. Most families just went to bed at dusk. Ekirch even found evidence that moon phases affected crime rates more than alcohol. If you liked 'The Time Traveler's Guide' series, this darker cousin will hook you.
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Related Questions

Where Can I Buy 'At Day'S Close: Night In Times Past'?

3 answers2025-06-15 21:30:38
I found 'At Day's Close: Night in Times Past' available at several major online retailers. Amazon has both new and used copies, often with Prime shipping options. For those who prefer supporting independent bookstores, platforms like Bookshop.org list it with links to local sellers. I’ve also spotted physical copies at larger Barnes & Noble locations in their history sections. If you’re hunting for deals, checking AbeBooks or ThriftBooks can yield cheaper secondhand editions. Libraries sometimes sell discarded copies too—worth asking around. The book’s been out a while, so prices vary wildly from $10 for worn paperbacks to $50 for hardcovers in mint condition.

Who Is The Author Of 'At Day'S Close: Night In Times Past'?

3 answers2025-06-15 21:29:00
I stumbled upon 'At Day's Close' while researching historical nightlife, and it blew my mind. The author, A. Roger Ekirch, is a history professor who specializes in sleep patterns and nighttime culture before electricity. His book isn't just dry facts—it's packed with wild anecdotes about how people partied, worked, and even committed crimes under cover of darkness. Ekirch's research revealed something groundbreaking: humans used to sleep in two shifts with a 'watching period' in between. That detail alone changed how I view historical fiction writing. For anyone into social history, this book is a goldmine of obscure details about candlelit societies.

Why Is 'At Day'S Close: Night In Times Past' Considered Unique?

3 answers2025-06-15 23:27:57
I've read tons of history books, but 'At Day's Close' stands out because it dives into what most historians ignore—nighttime in pre-industrial societies. Most books focus on daylight activities, but this one reveals how darkness shaped culture, fear, and even innovation. People lit streets with tallow candles, criminals thrived in shadows, and superstitions about night creatures dictated curfews. The book's strength is its gritty details—like how nightwatchmen sang to ward off evil spirits, or how moon phases affected harvest schedules. It’s not just about what happened after sunset; it’s about how night fundamentally altered human behavior in ways we’ve forgotten under modern electric lights.

What Time Period Does 'At Day'S Close: Night In Times Past' Cover?

3 answers2025-06-12 20:14:30
I've been fascinated by 'At Day's Close: Night in Times Past' ever since I picked it up. This book dives deep into the nocturnal world from the late Middle Ages right through to the Industrial Revolution. It's incredible how much changed during these centuries—how people viewed darkness, how night influenced culture, and even how crime flourished under cover of darkness. The author doesn't just stick to Europe either; there's plenty about colonial America and how settlers adapted to the night. If you\'re into history with a twist, this one's a must-read. The way it contrasts pre-electricity nights with today's 24/7 illuminated world is mind-blowing.

How Does 'At Day'S Close: Night In Times Past' Depict Historical Nighttime?

3 answers2025-06-12 23:28:32
I recently devoured 'At Day's Close' and was struck by how it shatters our romanticized view of historical nights. The book paints nighttime as a realm of constant danger and discomfort - streets were pitch black without modern lighting, making travel perilous. Thieves lurked in shadows, and even simple activities like walking home could turn deadly. The author details how people adapted: curfews locked city gates, night watchmen patrolled with limited effectiveness, and households invested in heavy shutters against burglars. What surprised me was how fire hazards actually increased after dark - people relied on candles and torches that frequently caused devastating blazes. The book also explores the psychological impact of long winter nights, with many believing darkness allowed supernatural forces to roam freely. It\'s a gritty, fascinating look at how our ancestors survived the night.

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