Le Ménagier de Paris

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Le Ménagier de Paris (The Householder of Paris) is a French medieval guidebook from the late 14th century. It is a comprehensive manual on the subjects of household management, cooking, and marital duties, written in the form of a series of instructions from an older husband to his young wife. The text provides a valuable insight into the domestic life and social norms of the time.

Authorship and Date

The exact authorship of Le Ménagier de Paris is unknown, but it is believed to have been written by a wealthy Parisian bourgeois around 1393. The manuscript is addressed to a young wife, providing her with guidance on how to manage a household effectively.

Content

Le Ménagier de Paris is divided into several sections, each dealing with different aspects of household management:

Household Management

This section includes advice on managing servants, maintaining cleanliness, and organizing household tasks. It emphasizes the importance of thrift and efficiency in running a household.

Cooking

The cooking section is one of the most detailed parts of the manuscript. It contains numerous recipes for medieval cuisine, including instructions for preparing meats, fish, vegetables, and desserts. The recipes provide a glimpse into the culinary practices and ingredients used in 14th-century France.

Marital Duties

The text also includes advice on marital relations, emphasizing the wife's duty to obey and serve her husband. It reflects the gender norms and expectations of the time, highlighting the patriarchal nature of medieval society.

Historical Significance

Le Ménagier de Paris is an important historical document that offers insights into the daily life, social customs, and culinary practices of the late Middle Ages. It is a valuable resource for historians studying medieval domestic life and gender roles.

Manuscripts and Editions

Several manuscripts of Le Ménagier de Paris have survived, and the text has been published in various editions over the centuries. The most well-known edition was edited by Jérôme Pichon in the 19th century.

See Also

• Medieval cuisine
• Household management
• Gender roles in the Middle Ages
• Domestic life in the Middle Ages