Brother William is a medieval monk and gardener who lives and works in Westminster Abbey. In his month by month diary he describes everyday life and work in the Abbey in the year 1383.
As Abbey Gardener Brother William is responsible for growing all the food the monks eat and the herbs they use for medicine. Along with Rufus the dog and 80 other monks some of whom the reader is introduced to Brother William is a member of the Abbey community.
Following a brief introduction to the order and their clothes Brother William takes us, the reader, through the course of a year in the monastery there are treats such as giant hot cross buns on Good Friday playing marbles in the cloister, trading grapes and drinking mulled wine alongside the hard work of clearing snow, fasting and working outside in the winter.
Jan Pancheri, head gardener at the Abbey has researched the life of the monks in great detail and created a charming, intelligently observed diary of their life. It is highly accessible, readable and fascinating with a combination of illuminated letters, decorative end papers mapping the abbey and garden and a selection of tasty recipes this book is a fascinating, original and charming introduction to life in a monastery.