Reviews for Music in the Life of Man

The average rating for Music in the Life of Man based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-10-06 00:00:00 Mary Pigott " This amphibious life makes them fit for neither, for if the bawd uses them ill, away they trip to service, and if the mistress gives them a wry word, whip they are at a bawdy-house again, so that in effect they neither make good whores nor good servants." "What gentleman will descend to this low way of intrigue, when he shall consider that he has a footboy or an apprentice for his rival, and that he is seldom or never admitted, but when they have been his tasters; and the fool of fortune, though he comes at the latter end of the feast, yet pays the whole reckoning; and so indeed would I have all such silly cullies served." I expected to hate this but I didn't, some parts made me chuckle and in the end I give the author props for explaining his grievances and offering solutions. 3/5 - A slice of "everyday" history

Review # 2 was written on 2012-05-26 00:00:00 Paul Rich An interesting read What a brilliant rant against female servants, footmen and shoe shiners. The maids come from the countryside and they immediately raise their wages, start wearing fancy silk dresses instead of wool. These even start affairs with the Master's apprentice, his son, or even the masters. This of course wrecks his marriage, family and even his estate at which point she dumps a bastard on him and leaves. All I can say is how horrible those poor rich men are treated by wicked female servants. He supplies several suggestions for keeping women servants inline. He also has a good rant shoe shine men and boys who he believes are all lazy scoundrels and thieves. This is a very interesting view of the class beliefs values and practices of the early 1700's by a English gentleman.