Women of the Middle Ages (Hardback)

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"An engaging, well-researched overview that illuminates overlooked voices of medieval women. For readers seeking a deeper understanding of women’s lives in the Middle Ages, this stands as one of the most accessible and thoughtfully structured modern studies available."

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History Medieval

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book is split into 3 main parts looking at women in the middle ages through religion, nobility and the workforce, which I actually found really interesting in terms of structure 📖

The 1st section focuses on religious women and how medieval ideas about gender were shaped by both religious and biological beliefs. Theres a really strong emphasis on context here, especially in understanding why women entered convents. It also includes examples like Catherine of Siena and Marie d’Oignies, showing how devotion, visions and even extreme sacrifice were tied to recognition. The discussion around religious movements like the Beguines was also really interesting, especially seeing how they lived without taking formal vows.

the 2nd part shifts to noble and royal women, with a focus on figures like Adela of Blois. it looks at how women could still hold influence and power, even when it was technically limited and how their roles as wives and mothers impacted politics and leadership.

The 3rd section was probably the most eye opening, focusing on working women. It completely challenges the idea that women only stayed at home, showing how they worked in farming, textiles, trade and even as alewives brewing and selling beer 🍺 it also goes into roles like midwives, which was honestly one of the more intense parts, especially with how high the risks and expectations were during childbirth.
There’s also a section on Viking women, which stood out because of how different their rights were compared to other societies, including things like divorce

Overall it covers a wide range of womens experiences across different areas of medieval life, from religion to labour and really focuses on what everyday life looked like rather than just the same well known figures.

NetGalley, Hannah Gardiner

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

There is a much paraphrased quote that ‘history is written by the victors’ it could also be argued that a lot of history is written by or focused on men, arguable only changing when Elizabeth I took the throne and still most of what we know comes from male contemporaries of her. So needless to say I adored this book which focuses squarely on women and more importantly from one of my favourite historical periods. It’s informative and broken into fantastic chapters that offer wonderful insight into the lives of women in Medieval times. A must read for historical fans and historians. Well researched and presented this is a fantastic addition to your bookshelf and I will definitely be getting a physical copy.

NetGalley, Siobhain McCormick

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

If you feel like you need a bit of tit-bits in your life about the place and understanding of women in the Middle Ages, then this book is for you... You can tell how much research went into making the book, and if something tickles your fancy, you can always dive deeper into the subject (one of the many reasons why I love citing)

NetGalley, Angelina Titeryakova

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A lovely and well written book. I had a great time reading it and found it both informative, engaging and fun to read. A definite keeper for me.

NetGalley, heather bennett

Luke Daly covers a multitude of sectors that women were involved in the Middle Ages, how they were treated and viewed. He provided examples of these different kinds of women by utilizing unique well-known women of the Middle Ages.

I really enjoyed this book as a history nerd who is always looking to learn something new...
I recommend this book to anyone who is trying to learn a more about history, specifically the Medieval Ages or anyone that is looking for a quick read about history that is digestible.

NetGalley, Alexis Michalski

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book is an incredible look into the way women were viewed and treated in the Middle Ages. Truthfully this book made me have visceral reactions to the cruelty and stigmas, but it’s very important to know how far we’ve come as a society. The storytelling is well-done and in a way that’s easily digestible even for novice history readers. I found myself interested the whole time, and inspired to look deeper into certain topics. I think everyone should read this!!

NetGalley, Kaitlyn López-Collier

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent short history examining the role of women in the Middle Ages.

The book divides the story between women who sought church-related roles, in many cases non-Bible women but more often than not widows, aristocratic women who more often than not in times of war or the Crusades took control of the property as chatelaine and guardian or sometimes due to inheritance laws, ruled, the common women who had a heavy road to bear. The author has chosen excellent examples of both roles. I especially enjoyed the section dealing with the beguines and anchoresses who chose to remove themselves from the secular word (a hint: interested in knowing more about the beguines read #Canticle). On the aristocratic side Adele of Blois is simply fascinating. The section on what ordinary women had as options what one expects - I’m just glad I didn’t have to live in the age of no electricity and internet. Those women who did have my sincere adoration.

The author shows us that while choices for most women were pretty cut and dry - subservience to the male per biblical thinking - women of the Middle Ages did have some freedoms that over time were wrested from them. The 21st C is really not much different as far as women’s rights go.

Really enjoyed this book.

NetGalley, Janine Skavnak

I found Luke Daly’s “Women of the Middle Ages” a very pleasurable read! It serves as a sort of “catch-all” for the subject - a broad survey of Medieval women from the early to late Middle Ages. It is a short volume, so I would absolutely recommend it if you are booking for a quick yet informative non-fiction read! It has this medieval feminist’s seal of approval.

NetGalley, Sophia Bucior

I really enjoyed this! Often in books about the medieval period, the focus is on the men. Even when a title is focused on women, it is often the royal and noble class. The common, everyday woman in the medieval period is a topic that is very under explored but this book does a great job providing a look at the various classes of medieval women and their lives

NetGalley, Kayleigh Kress

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This well-researched book is written in an engaging anecdotal style. The author surveys the lives of women in medieval times from various perspectives, including religious, royal and common life. My favourite sections are the ones dealing with occupations and lives of common women. It was illuminating, reading all the reasons why women would choose a monastic life. Not at all what you might think!

NetGalley, Marsha Skrypuch

All in all I thought it was a really interesting read about so many women I had never heard about until this book. So if you are a medieval history enthusiast and you're looking for a history book to read this is definitely the one. For people that are interested in women and women’s history I would also definitely recommend this too, for it is a rich source of information for anyone who interests lie in these subjects. So get your notebook, or phone, ipad or just a pen ready to note down all the interesting facts and women.

NetGalley, Isabel Sipman

I learned a great deal about women's roles within different time periods within the full Medieval Period, how tradition, culture and the church changed those roles over time. What jobs, trades, duties and freedoms of women were molded by time, circumstances and politics of the time.

NetGalley, Judith Worthington

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A fascinating trip through the Middle Ages with the focus on the women of the time (yay!)—the saints, the nuns, the workers, and the midwifes (and child bearers). I loved that some of the monastic communities for women seemed more like hippie communes where they could find community, education, self-expression, and respite from the secular life (read: marriage and societal stereotypes), rather than typical nunneries. One particularly appealing order is described as comprising "a large following of women who were rich and poor, widows and virgins, old and young, prostitutes and man-haters alike."

I love books that explore hidden histories and this one was very accessibly written and engaging!

NetGalley, Victoria Huhn