The Secret Lives of Single Medieval Women: True Stories of Nuns, Maidens, and Not-So-Merry Widows Who Made Their Own Way in the Medieval World

by Rosalie Gilbert

Unveiling the Untold Stories of Women in the Middle Ages For centuries, medieval history books have told the stories of noble queens, dutiful housewives, and cloistered nuns—but what about the single women who lived, worked, and thrived in medieval Europe? The Secret Lives of Single Medieval Women reveals the overlooked yet fascinating lives of middle age women who did not fit the conventional mold. From unmarried tradeswomen and widows to vowesses and nuns, these women carved their own paths in a world that often sought to define them by their marital status. Single, independent, and often underestimated—these women left their mark on history. While medieval and Middle Ages society dictated that a woman's worth was tied to marriage and family, countless single women built lives of resilience and ingenuity. Some ran successful businesses, others devoted themselves to education or faith, and many simply found ways to survive within a rigid social structure. This book sheds light on their stories, proving that history is far richer and more complex than the narratives we've been told. Discover the vibrant and often surprising lives of single women in the Middle Ages. Whether running businesses, navigating religious life, or simply surviving societal expectations, these women played a crucial role in shaping medieval society. Rich with historical records, poetry, and legal documents, this medieval history book brings to light the personal stories of those often left out of traditional narratives. Inside, you'll A vivid look at medieval clothing women wore, their homes, and their trades Fascinating insights into women's roles in medieval England history—from peasants to powerful figures A perfect gift for medieval history teachers, history enthusiasts, and anyone curious about women in the Middle Ages Blending meticulous research with engaging storytelling, The Secret Lives of Single Medieval Women challenges outdated perceptions and brings history's forgotten women back to life. If you liked Embers of the Hands, Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife , or The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women, you'll love The Secret Lives of Single Medieval Women.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval History, Womens

292 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2025

Reviews

[Trian · Rating 3 out of 5]

B. Maybe not my cup of tea - i feel like i read all the words but understood nothing.

[CatReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosalie Gilbert is an writer and history enthusiast and costume reenacter, known for her online content and prior book, 2020's The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women: An Inside Look at Women & Sex in Medieval Times. Her 2025 book The Secret Lives of Single Medieval Women is a fascinating look at the mundane daily practices, traditions, and minutiae of the lives of 13th century single English women – focusing on female children, adolescents, widows, nuns, and never-married women. This is a well-researched and highly-detailed book, probably best used as a reference book to satiate interest on particular topics than read from start to finish (as I did).

Further reading:
Unmentionable: The Victorian Lady's Guide to Sex, Marriage, and Manners by Therese Oneill
How to Be a Victorian by Ruth Goodman

My statistics:
Book 49 for 2026
Book 2355 cumulatively

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Interesting.

[Madison Bolding · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting but definitely drier than i thought it would be. i was hoping for some more hot goss

[Tonja Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book with true stories of various women in the Middle Ages.

I enjoyed this. Some of the stories were surprising and some were what we have come to expect.

[Kourtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. If you have a background on the subject, its a little basic (although I enjoyed the chapter on clothing) but its a good start for someone who knows nothing about medieval women.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an exciting but slightly underwhelming entry into the canon of women in history.

I really loved learning about the women from all walks of life in the Medieval ages. This isn't just about the queens and courtly sort, but women at all ages and levels of society, including beggars and sex workers.

This is a well-referenced and deeply sourced text ... where it could be. Part of the challenge is that women weren't worth noting most of the time. A lot is guesswork based on what was missing and what was known for men. Of course, virtually nothing is known about genderqueer folks. Would I love someone to try a history on that!

I loved learning about how various single women made their way. The nuns at Godstoew Abbey were apparently a raucous bunch, always being formally chastised in writing by the Bishop of Lincoln for staying up all night and having too much fun.

On the downside, there's a lot of stuffing here. There's a whole section on the seasons of the time with no apparent relation to single Medieval women. I just couldn't understand why this material was included. Except that there simply isn't enough to write a book about. Gotta fill in the cracks with background knowledge when all else fails, I guess. I also felt that there were a lot of details about clothing. The author just seemed to be grasping at straws (almost literally) in various places due to lack of material, I gather.

Still a worthy and easy-to-read text.

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Mango Publishing Group for the advance copy.

[Ira Therebel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book! Medieval times are already pretty interesting and the author also selected a topic to concentrate on which I really didn't know much about: the single women.

Who were the single women of those times? Young girls, maidens, spinsters, widows and nuns. Rosalie Gilbert goes through different topics such as clothes, leisure time, pets etc. for all those groups as well as different social ranks in those groups and tells us how it was connected to them and their lives.

I am not an expert so I would say I learned a lot of new information from this book. And as the author says a lot of things were different from how they are being portrayed in today's media. Like for example they were taking care of their teeth. And poor women were not as horribly dressed as we see in the movies. And besides telling the facts she also brings examples of individual women or advice found in the writings from those times where we can see it. I really liked the one where it is told to young men not to be jealous if the woman loves her kitten too much. Some things never change!

With all the information given I also found it to be very easy to read. I only wish there would be more illustration, especially in the chapter about clothes so it would be easier to imagine it.

[Nocturnal Pope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to absolutely get my copy from Rosalie's book launch. It truly doesn't disappoint. Her idea of trying to find out what the Medieval equivalent of the modern day single cat lady would be like is a great read. As usual, her very easy to read style of writing is just like having a conversation with her in person. This isn't a university paper full of facts and figures you get tired of reading after the first chapter. Although you are still learning as you read from a particularly well researched and analysed text, this is written in a fun informative way that absolutely anyone can pick this up and both have a laugh, and learn at the same time. Rosalie, you've done it again!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this interesting, more like a text book. Depending on their position in the social scale women were not always the simpering, docile creatures so often depicted in literature. Many had choices as to how their lives were lived, others were supported by their fathers or husbands in their choice of lifestyle. Education was embraced by many.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not as whimsical and silly as the title suggested, but its research was also somewhat questionable. It's not absolutely terrible, and because I listened to the audiobook I could compare notes or the bibliography, I just found a lot of information conflicting or lacking some necessary context.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Rosalie's first book, but this one did not connect as well. A lot of repeated information from other works in a similar vein, and I wanted more of the humor and light of her authorial voice to come through.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting read that anyone can enjoy even if you are not a diehard medieveal enthusiast. This book is factual but doesn't bog the reader down. Very well written.

[Raeann Myers]

DNF- I wanted scandal with the title. Very informative, read more like a textbook than I was anticipating.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

It seems like the author lost the plot half way through. There was one chapter that had nothing to do with the topic and from that point on the main topic was lost.