Women in England in the Middle Ages

Abstract

45-1667 HQ1599 MARC Ward, Jennifer. Women in England in the Middle Ages. Hambledon Continuum, 2006. 283p bibl index ISBN 1852853468, $49.95

45-1667 HQ1599 MARC Ward, Jennifer. Women in England in the Middle Ages. Hambledon Continuum, 2006. 283p bibl index ISBN 1852853468, $49.95

Ward (Univ. of London) provides a comprehensive general introduction to the role of women in medieval English society, examining the female life cycle and emphasizing commitments to immediate family members and local communities. Medieval marriage may have emphasized property arrangements more than personal feelings, but most couples developed strong attachments to each other and their offspring. The influence of communal norms on female behavior was strong and overt, applied by one's neighbors as well as the church. Widowhood could release women from unhappy marriages, but often brought economic difficulties for the lower classes. In a primarily rural society, opportunities for work outside the marital home were few and poorly paid. The young of both sexes often started out in domestic service, which granted financial and personal independence. Noblewomen and queens wielded the greatest administrative powers and acted as religious and literary patrons, but women of all classes took their religious duties seriously, performing acts of charity and participating in parish church functions. Extensive notes and bibliography lead readers to publications that are more specific, and guide student research projects. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers, undergraduates, researchers/faculty.L. C. Attreed, College of the Holy Cross