With trademark wit and rigorous research, Ruth Goodman guides readers through the unruliest corners of Elizabethan society. From tavern revels to courtroom dramas, she uncovers the rules, rituals, and rude behaviors that defined Renaissance Britain.

Drawing on contemporary advice manuals, court records, and sermons, this chronicle reveals why quoting Shakespeare was poor etiquette, curses against women often revolved around salacious jests, and even simple table manners could spark public outrage. Goodman’s vivid storytelling highlights the art of derision, showing how insults and tricks shaped daily life.

• Crafting cutting insults and social jabs
• Drinking customs and tavern etiquette
• Legal cases against harlots, thieves, and braggarts
• Surprising rituals and popular pastimes

Accessible and engaging, this portrait of Elizabethan England celebrates a time when misbehavior was nearly an art form. Readers gain a lively, historically accurate view of the naughtiest chapters in British history.

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