Women of the Middle Ages: A Window into the World of Medieval Women

by Luke Daly

224 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 30, 2026

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

Thanks to Pen & Sword Books, via NetGalley, for gifting me this ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Judith Worthington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non-Fiction To Be Published March 2026

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.

The beginning section asks the reader to set aside our modern day way of thinking, and I needed to keep reminding myself to do so.

I found the last section very interesting where it showed the different type of lives Viking women led as they held onto their original spiritual belief system well into the Medieval Period. I would have liked that section expanded upon in more detail.