Lois 's Reviews > Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife: The Extraordinary Lives of Medieval Women

I've studied a fair bit of Medieval Era history. It's an interesting time in history, and much of what makes up the modern Western world has roots in this time period. This is also an extremely sexist and oppressive period in history, so finding powerful women is always a worthy endeavor.

The women chosen to be highlighted for this text are solid, interesting, and quite unique for the times they lived in. They are successful rebels, and the intricate dance required for women who defied their prescribed roles did not diminish their power.

Marie de France was the daughter of another powerful woman ruler who defied the place set for her with both of her husbands. In fact, I'm primarily familiar with Marie through the biographies I've read on her mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. I was aware she was a poet, as the descendant of Troubadours. How could she be anything less?

Julian of Norwich was probably the least well known to me, though I had heard of her. Christine de Pizan was probably the character with which I was the most familiar with peripherally, simply from my studies on the Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War in France. Margery Kempe, I knew about but in a very outlinish way. She was fascinating and possibly the woman whose story I found the most interesting.

This is easily accessible to casual readers of history, especially those interested in the medieval era and women during that era. This was very well researched and meticulously laid out. I plan to purchase this for my collection on audiobook. It reminded me not in detail or style but in the tone of Gemma Hollman's Royal Witches, which I revisit regularly.

Another recommendation I'd give for this is an immersive reading experience. The narrator of this novel is Amy Noble. Amy does a wonderful job conveying emotion and making these women feel accessible and almost modern. Making this an excellent candidate for reading the text while also listening to the audio. I especially like this method with history texts like this because I retain so much of the information I've read. I find this works best with books that are paced a certain way, and this is perfectly paced. If you're into such experiences.

Thank you to Hetta Howes, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.