What We Did in Bed, Brian Fagan
What We Did in Bed, Brian Fagan
List: $16.95 | Sale: $11.87
Club: $8.47

What We Did in Bed
A Horizontal History

Author: Brian Fagan, Nadia Durrani

Narrator: Michael Langan

Unabridged: 6 hr 46 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/07/2022

Synopsis

Pulling back the covers on the fascinating, yet often forgotten, history of the bedLouis XIV ruled France from his bedchamber. Winston Churchill governed Britain from his during World War II. Travelers routinely used to bed down with complete strangers, and whole families shared beds in many preindustrial households. Beds were expensive items—and often for show. Tutankhamun was buried on a golden bed, wealthy Greeks were sent to the afterlife on dining beds, and deceased middle-class Victorians were propped up on beds in their parlors. In this sweeping social history that covers the past seventy thousand years, Brian Fagan and Nadia Durrani look at the endlessly varied role of the bed through time. This was a place for sex, death, childbirth, storytelling, and sociability as well as sleeping. But who did what with whom, why, and how could vary incredibly depending on the time and place. It is only in the modern era that the bed has transformed into a private, hidden zone, and its rich social history has largely been forgotten.

About Brian Fagan

Brian Fagan is one of the world’s leading archaeological writers and an internationally recognized authority on world prehistory. He is Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His other books include Fishing: How the Sea Fed Civilization and A Little History of Archaeology.

About Nadia Durrani

Nadia Durrani has spent the past two decades writing about world archaeology. She is the coauthor of several of Brian Fagan’s market-leading textbooks and the former editor of Current World Archaeology magazine.

About Michael Langan

As the middle of six children, Michael Langan quickly carved out his space in the group; he was the storyteller. Out in the real world, he would gravitate to office and administration roles until he quit his job in 2020, deciding to become a full-time voice-over artist and a background artist in film and television productions. When he's not on set, in his home studio, or being forcibly dragged across rugby fields by his dog Oisin, he can be found in his kitchen, setting off the fire alarm on a regular basis with his attempts at cooking and baking.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Mae on June 28, 2021

Milline tore raamat ja keegi pole sellest mulle kõssanudki, sattus lihtsalt raamatukogust läbi joostes teele ette. Voodi võetakse üksipulgi lahti, ja mitte ainult ehitusdetailides, kuigi ka seda tuleb ette. Ennekõike ikkagi kõik see, mida voodis tehtud on. Sünnist surmani. Lisaks voodis toimunud sel......more

Goodreads review by Tracey Allen on September 17, 2019

I'm fascinated by sleep, so when I saw What We Did In Bed: A Horizontal History by Brian Fagan & Nadia Durrani was available on NetGalley it was a no-brainer. This non-fiction gem contains a history of beds through time, including changes in beds from the Egyptian Pharaohs all the way to the modern......more

Goodreads review by Cäroly on January 05, 2025

Aasta esimene✨️📖 Mõnda aega ootel olnud raamat, mis osutus üle ootuste maru huvitavaks! Kuivõrd laiahaardeliselt ning globaalselt on käsitletud voodi/magamisasemete ajalugu. Ja millist rolli see on laiemas sotsiaalses mõistes omanud. Vast kõige suurema ahhaa- momendina oli lähemalt teada saada kuidas......more

Goodreads review by Morris on February 13, 2022

This is a fun history of the bed and its many functions through the ages. If you're looking for a history of sex this will be a disappointment. However, if you're looking for a deep dive into a piece of furniture, this is for you! This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the......more

Goodreads review by Natalie on October 02, 2022

I love a good “history of ____” type of book that traces an item/theme through history. This was an easy little bedside table read.......more

Quotes

“This is a fascinating account of an important object that has not previously received the attention it deserves.” Chris Scarre, Durham University

“Anyone wishing to appreciate the pedigree of this unjustly overlooked item of furniture should dive between the covers of this volume to experience the ultimate bedtime story.” Current World Archaeology

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