Medieval People

Kendall’s narration is the secret weapon of this audiobook. Her voice has a warmth and clarity that makes Power’s essays feel like a fireside chat with a sharp-witted friend who refuses to let you off the hook with vague answers. She’s equally at home with Power’s dry humor—imagine a raised eyebrow mid-sentence—and the more solemn moments, where the brutality of medieval life isn’t softened for our comfort. The pacing is brisk but never rushed, and she nails the rhythm of Power’s prose, which swings between folksy anecdotes and razor-sharp analysis. That said, I wish Kendall had leaned harder into some of the harsher dialects or regional accents; the occasional flat delivery in passages about non-English figures occasionally trips up the immersion. And while Power’s disdain for romanticized medievalism is refreshing, her occasional editorializing about modern parallels—like her jab at contemporary consumerism—feels a tad too on-the-nose, breaking the spell of the past just long enough to remind you this isn’t pure escapism. But these quibbles aside, Kendall’s performance elevates Power’s already brilliant work. If you’ve ever wanted medieval history to feel less like a museum diorama and more like a living, breathing world, this audiobook delivers. Just don’t expect to come away feeling all misty-eyed about the ‘simpler’ past—Power and Kendall don’t let you.