The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France

One of the purposes of a microhistory like The Last Duel is to illuminate the social life, culture, and certain trends in a specific time and place. Do you believe The Last Duel succeeds in exploring the society and lived experience in 14th-century France? Why or why not?

Eric Jager often uses speculation to fill in the blanks left by the sources in his history. What is one example of when Jager uses speculation? Do you believe his speculation is effective?

Using information conveyed in The Last Duel, write a brief “primary source” of your own from the perspective of a noblewoman or nobleman living in Normandy or in Paris at the same time as Jean de Carrouges IV and Marguerite.