Chairs and drinking glasses

[I, Brian]

Indeed, I have a replica mediaeval drinking vessel by my desk - wooden base, and hardened leather water-proofed inside with pitch, to drink from. It wouldn't last long in the ground, but would be practical for a while.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Originally Posted by Esioul

And there's always debate about history

There are always debates about history, but that's not to say that every aspect of history is debatable.

And I doubt that the author himself would or could make an argument in favor of chairs or glasses being used in low taverns during his period -- he was just being careless.

For me, those kinds of mistakes, besides being distracting, are a red flag; I've found them to be a fairly reliable warning that major plot points are going to hang on similar historical improbabilities.

There's nothing more distracting than reaching some dramatic moment in a book and asking oneself "why on God's green earth did he do that, when he could have done [insert simple, obvious, and appropriate option that would have been available to him] instead." This is the point where I would chuck the book across the room, but I find it easier on the binding (and my nerves) to simply put a book aside when small signs of trouble ahead start adding up early.

[Dead Riverdragon]

Well Manfredi's pretty knowledgeable, but he doesn't write in English- I'm wondering whether it's simply a matter of the translator being to blame?

[Teresa Edgerton]

In that case, it could well be the translator's fault.