In the 14th century, Books of Hours became a fashionable and essential religious item among the nobility, regardless of their level of faith. These books served as personal prayer guides and reflected the spiritual and cultural values of the time. They symbolized a connection to the divine and an adherence to the practices of the Church, appealing to both devout individuals and those seeking to display their social status.

Barbara W. Tuchman's work, "A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century," highlights how these texts were not only tools for religious observance but also a representation of the norms and aesthetics of noble life during an era marked by turmoil and change. The widespread ownership of Books of Hours underscores their significance in both personal spirituality and the broader cultural landscape of the time.