This is the story of Margarita de Portu, a medieval French woman who was falsely accused of poisoning her husband to death. In addition to learning about her engaging story, the reader also learns how historians "do" history and discovers the rewards and pitfalls of working with primary sources.</p><p>The book opens with a chapter on micro-history as a genre, explaining its strengths, weaknesses, and inherent risks. It then tells the narrative of Margarita's criminal trial, including chapters on the civil suits, appeal, and Margarita's eventual fate. Maps are provided, as well as an example of a court notary's rough copy, a notarial act, a sample folio of a criminal inquest record, a list of characters, a timeline and family tree, transcriptions of a criminal inquest, and a translation of the criminal charges made against Margarita.</p>