Very true. Though my pal kathyh just as been to the London version and says she found it fascinating, which is a bit reassuring.

Last year there was this fantastic exhibition in Mainz around various medieval Emperors which among other things offered the Manesse Codex and Theophanu's wedding contract to view, but also managed to paint a picture of every day life for both the nobility and the commoners and do so in an informative, non-patronizing way. Meaning: it wasn't just for history geeks (though definitely fun for them, too!), but reached out to a wider audience. Despite having to explain a lot. It can be done!