At Day’s Close: Night In Times Past
A.
Roger Ekirch
New
York & London: W.W. Norton & Company, 2005 & 2006
447
pages, including: Illustrations, Acknowledgements, Preface, Notes and Index
Paperback
Reviewed
by Rev. Eclecticity
This
volume is a rather unique contribution to the study of night—an eclectic
potpourri of history, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and more, dating
from the late Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution. An engaging and
entertaining read, yet at times tedious, having to contend with around seventy
pages of endnotes.
The
structure of this work is divided up into four parts and twelve chapters. Part
One, “In the Shadow of Death,” describes the negative, evil, threatening nature
of night. Part Two, “Laws of Nature,” portrays how religious and civil
authorities attempted to employ suppressive measures like curfews and watchmen
to control nocturnal human activities. Part Three, “Benighted Realms,” examines
men and women at work and at play; and how night transformed the traditional,
class-oriented daytime roles. Part Four, “Private Worlds,” addresses the world
of sleep and dreams, as well as evening rituals.
Each
of the four parts and chapters begins with a thought-provoking quotation, such
as: “Never greet a stranger in the night, for he may be a demon.” THE TALMUD “The
law is not the same at morning and at night.” GEORGE HERBERT “Many things even
go best in the raw night-hours.” VIRGIL, 1ST CENTURY B.C. “Happy are
those who can get rid of their problems when sleeping.” GUILLAUME BOUCHET
In
addition to the familiar beliefs associated with night, the author points out
other factors that torment human beings after dark, such as: strange sounds,
distorted sights, the fear of robbers, rapists, murderers, and other malevolent
beings. The nocturnal habits of royalty, clergy, the rich and the poor, prostitutes
and outcasts of all kinds. Even a husband or wife would kill their spouse while
they were asleep. Many a fire started from burning candles and melting wax when
folks fell asleep—claiming lives and homes. Sometimes fires were deliberately
started and could destroy entire streets because the buildings were so close
together and people had little or no equipment to put them out. Accidents
occurred on city streets at night when horses and carriages ran over pedestrians
who were unable to find safety on narrow streets. People were injured or killed
from falls into cisterns, holes, and cellars at night. Many were afraid to
travel at night for fear of being robbed, mistakenly killed or beaten, or
getting lost due to darkness.
On
the upside of night, in both Jewish and Christian traditions, clergy encouraged
reading, study, prayers and devotions. Religious minorities often met secretly
at night and held their worship services, including weddings and burials.
Ekirch
also ponders such traditions as: the origin of bedtime clothing for the middle
and upper classes in the sixteenth century, while the poor slept in their day
clothing and without blankets, sleep as terror for those who fear their enemies
or have nightmares, sleep as a blessing for those who have visions and ecstatic
dreams, the recommended hours of sleep for a healthy life, and the influence of
gas lighting in cities during the nineteenth century, among various and sundry
other subjects.
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