The Book of Hours

Since the monastic era in the West, this organisation by hours has become so ubiquitous that it has come almost to seem uncaused, a fact of nature. Now, Kevin Jackson restores its strangeness and richness.

From the structure of the working day to the imposition of curfews, from the scheduling of public events to the content of etiquette, in a manner no less remarkable for being rarely remarked, the hours give a meaning to our days. Here then are the hours, from dawn to Eliot's 'uncertain hour before dawn' by way of elevenses and the lunch hour, the hours for siesta and for tiffin, vespers and the witching hour.