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Medieval Women
Throughout her career as a medieval historian, Eileen Power was engaged on a book about women in the Middle Ages. She did not live to write the book but some of the material she collected found its way into her popular lectures on medieval women. These lectures are now brought together, edited by M.M. Postan, and reveal the world in which women lived, were educated, worked, and worshipped. Power gives a vivid account of the worlds of the lady, the peasant, the townswoman, and the nun. The result is a historical yet intimate picture of a period gone by yet with resonances for today. For this edition, an essay on Eileen Power, by Maxine Berg, is also included. It offers an intimate portrait of the writer and social historian.
136 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
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2045 people want to read
About the author
Eileen Power
43 books26 followersA specialist in medieval history, Eileen Edna LePoer Power was Director of Studies in History at Girton College, University of Cambridge from 1913 until 1921, Lecturer in Political Science at the London School of Economics from 1921 until 1924, and Reader of the University of London 1924 until 1931. In 1931 she became the second woman to be appointed to the Chair of Economic History at the London School of Economics (LSE).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
July 3, 2018
This would have been Eileen Power’s magnum opus had she lived to complete it. Sadly she died of heart failure at only 51 in 1940. She had been working on a book about medieval women for many years; on the way writing about the wool trade, nunneries and medieval people. Here we have her notes and part finished work on women, put together after her death.
Eileen Power herself is an interesting character, going to Girton College Cambridge on a scholarship and an early supporter of the suffragettes. She taught at Cambridge and the LSE, pushing to include women’s history in the curriculum and to modernise the teaching of medieval and economic and social history. After the First World War Power won a prestigious travel scholarship (the first woman to do so). Not without some opposition. Power wrote of her interview with Sir Cooper Perry, the Vice Chancellor of London University;
“Sir Cooper Perry obviously did not take women’s work very seriously (or perhaps it was me he didn’t take seriously!) One of his obiter dicta was “I have often been amused by women historians; so many of the springs of human action must be hidden from them.” He also suggested that I might defeat the objects of the trust (sic) by subsequently committing matrimony, so I suppose he keeps his wife in purdah: anyway these silly remarks would not be made to male candidates.”
Nevertheless Power got the scholarship and spent time travelling in China and India. She saw the aftermath of the Amritsar massacre, met Ghandi and attended the Nagpur Congress. Power also mixed in bohemian and intellectual circles in London. She was a member of the well-known Gargoyle Club, but resigned because when she was showing Paul Robeson around London, he was refused admittance.
Power was a good historian with a wide range of interests who opened a window on the lives of medieval women. This work has chapters on nunneries, education, noblewomen, working women and the medieval conception of women. There is a great deal to learn from this book and Power explodes some of the myths about medieval women, examining the two main sources of ideas about women; the Church and the Aristocracy. She acknowledges that it is very difficult to gain significant information about the lives of the labouring poor; but Power was one of the early pioneers using paleology and detailed court and church records to glean small amounts of information.
There is interesting reflection on the cult of Mary and the ideas surrounding courtly love. The ideas relating to priories and nunneries being spaces for women are interesting. More interesting was the information about Christine de Pizan (1364-1430), a writer. She was married at 14, had three children and was a widow at 25. She had to support her family (including her mother) and did it by writing. She entered into controversies with male writers about the role of women and wrote books in defence of women and advising women. Simone de Beauvoir commented that de Pizan’s work is “the first time we see a woman take up her pen in defence of her sex". She also collaborated with other women. Power brings to light parts of history previously overlooked.
Eileen Power herself is an interesting character, going to Girton College Cambridge on a scholarship and an early supporter of the suffragettes. She taught at Cambridge and the LSE, pushing to include women’s history in the curriculum and to modernise the teaching of medieval and economic and social history. After the First World War Power won a prestigious travel scholarship (the first woman to do so). Not without some opposition. Power wrote of her interview with Sir Cooper Perry, the Vice Chancellor of London University;
“Sir Cooper Perry obviously did not take women’s work very seriously (or perhaps it was me he didn’t take seriously!) One of his obiter dicta was “I have often been amused by women historians; so many of the springs of human action must be hidden from them.” He also suggested that I might defeat the objects of the trust (sic) by subsequently committing matrimony, so I suppose he keeps his wife in purdah: anyway these silly remarks would not be made to male candidates.”
Nevertheless Power got the scholarship and spent time travelling in China and India. She saw the aftermath of the Amritsar massacre, met Ghandi and attended the Nagpur Congress. Power also mixed in bohemian and intellectual circles in London. She was a member of the well-known Gargoyle Club, but resigned because when she was showing Paul Robeson around London, he was refused admittance.
Power was a good historian with a wide range of interests who opened a window on the lives of medieval women. This work has chapters on nunneries, education, noblewomen, working women and the medieval conception of women. There is a great deal to learn from this book and Power explodes some of the myths about medieval women, examining the two main sources of ideas about women; the Church and the Aristocracy. She acknowledges that it is very difficult to gain significant information about the lives of the labouring poor; but Power was one of the early pioneers using paleology and detailed court and church records to glean small amounts of information.
There is interesting reflection on the cult of Mary and the ideas surrounding courtly love. The ideas relating to priories and nunneries being spaces for women are interesting. More interesting was the information about Christine de Pizan (1364-1430), a writer. She was married at 14, had three children and was a widow at 25. She had to support her family (including her mother) and did it by writing. She entered into controversies with male writers about the role of women and wrote books in defence of women and advising women. Simone de Beauvoir commented that de Pizan’s work is “the first time we see a woman take up her pen in defence of her sex". She also collaborated with other women. Power brings to light parts of history previously overlooked.
October 5, 2019
4.5/5
Todo lo que podría pedir de un librito, aquí. Historia medieval y mujeres; siento que derribé un par de mitos y se me generaron muchas otras dudas respecto a este periodo. No es que Power no los cubra, es que te genera más interés por seguir profundizando ;;;;;
Todo lo que podría pedir de un librito, aquí. Historia medieval y mujeres; siento que derribé un par de mitos y se me generaron muchas otras dudas respecto a este periodo. No es que Power no los cubra, es que te genera más interés por seguir profundizando ;;;;;
May 4, 2013
I loved this book! I served the purpose. This good starting point for those with interest in the High Medieval Ages and womens place in society. Illustrations in this book are great. This is divided into five sections on attitudes toward women, aristocratic women, working women, education, and nuns. I found the passages on education and guilds were interesting.
December 24, 2024
Eileen Power nunca defrauda, y este librín es perfecto para conocer algunos aspectos de las vidas de las mujeres de la Inglaterra medieval.
February 9, 2012
She gives a good and clear perspective of the life of a medieval woman. With none of the martyred "poor woman of history" schtick that a great many historical authors tend to go for.
March 13, 2025
3.5. Even though in this second reading I have given it less stars (I know more now than I did 11 years ago), I still enjoyed it and I'm really greatful to Eileen Power for her studies.
December 19, 2016
Oh, little book, how can you be so good? Medieval Women is a scant 91 pages that Power’s widower compiled from her lectures. I wish Power had been able to write the book she planned, but even so, this text is a rich secondary source. I was most interested in the chapter on “Working Women,” but the final chapter on “Nunneries” (Power’s primary interest) was interesting — albeit sad. The chapter on upper class women was interesting, but not terribly surprising to anyone who knows about the Pastons or who sat down and thought about ladies’ duties for a few minutes.
My interest is whetted.
My interest is whetted.
August 27, 2012
A social history of prominent and ordinary women from 450 - 1500. Absolutely fascinating book covering both their spiritual & temporal attitudes to their lives and their views on sex, marriage & motherhood.
May 28, 2025
I confess I found the introductory material about Eileen Power more interesting than the book itself. That's not to say the book itself is bad in any way; it's just, Power's approach has become so standard in the decades since this was written that was once a radical reformation of how we look at women in history now feels a bit "well, of course." The passage of time will do that. (The one aspect that reads very strangely for a modern reader is the sheer amount of Middle English presented with no gloss or translation. Power just assumes that of course everyone will understand it without difficulty.)
Making a note to hunt down a copy of A Woman in History: Eileen Power, 1889–1940A Woman in History: Eileen Power, 1889–1940, though.
Making a note to hunt down a copy of A Woman in History: Eileen Power, 1889–1940A Woman in History: Eileen Power, 1889–1940, though.
November 5, 2022
I read this as part of my dissertation research and it concisely achieved its purpose. It provided a very useful basic contextual background discussing Medieval women’s theoretical position in society as well as illustrating the function of their position within each class.
December 7, 2022
Earlier this year I read ‘Square Haunting’, a fascinating insight into the lives of five literary women of whom Eileen Power was one. As a result, I was keen to read something she had written, and came upon this little book. She never published a book related to her study of medieval women, but this is a collection of lectures which she gave. As such, it is a little repetitive - but for someone of my age that is a definite advantage! Power studied in depth the limited original sources for information about the life of the Medieval woman, and builds up a fascinating picture of the role of different types of women - lady, townswoman, peasant, nun. Much of the male-written literature of the era deals with chivalry and the romance of courtly love - Power shows this to be male fantasy with little basis in reality. However, it appears that many women were able to exercise a degree of independence that was then lost over the course of succeeding centuries. And if you haven’t heard of Christine de Pisan, search her out!
January 6, 2026
3.5
Sadly you can tell this was an unfinished work, the chapters are light.. the information provided however is nicely set out, good for those beginning their foray into this topic.
Sadly you can tell this was an unfinished work, the chapters are light.. the information provided however is nicely set out, good for those beginning their foray into this topic.
August 16, 2015
Although this book is old by academic standards (Power passed away in 1940, and her husband published these lectures 1975), Medieval Women still offers a useful and accessible overview of women in the Middle Ages. The book is divided into three chapters that succinctly cover the options women had during the Middle Ages—lady, peasant, or nun—and two more chapters that cover general ideas about women during the period and education for women. Readers may pick and choose which sections are most interesting to them, or read the book in order.
Though each lecture is relatively short (and nicely broken up with an assortment of reproductions of medieval artwork), Power concisely addresses the major points of each topic and refutes the most common myths. She explains, for example, that not as many women were educated by nuns as people might think, and that the ideas presented about women in medieval texts (primarily written by male nobles and clergy) may not accurately reflect how women acted or were perceived in everyday life—particularly by peasants who would not have access to those texts.
Once in a while Power’s arguments do seem dated. For instance, she praises the aim of chivalry to “raise up” women as people to be served or venerated, with the argument that at least this was better than the tendency to see women as sinful descendants of Eve. Today, many scholars argue that actually chivalry did little to expand roles for women. However, the book as a whole is generally accurate. M. M. Postman did some minor editing to account for new research done between Power’s death and the publication of her lectures. Also, the historical facts tend to hold, while Power’s interpretation of them is often what is outdated.
Medieval Women is a thoughtful, highly readable introduction to its topic. Readers already deeply familiar with the history and literature of the Middle Ages will probably not find a lot of that is new here. But readers looking to start learning about women of the Middle Ages will do well to start here.
Though each lecture is relatively short (and nicely broken up with an assortment of reproductions of medieval artwork), Power concisely addresses the major points of each topic and refutes the most common myths. She explains, for example, that not as many women were educated by nuns as people might think, and that the ideas presented about women in medieval texts (primarily written by male nobles and clergy) may not accurately reflect how women acted or were perceived in everyday life—particularly by peasants who would not have access to those texts.
Once in a while Power’s arguments do seem dated. For instance, she praises the aim of chivalry to “raise up” women as people to be served or venerated, with the argument that at least this was better than the tendency to see women as sinful descendants of Eve. Today, many scholars argue that actually chivalry did little to expand roles for women. However, the book as a whole is generally accurate. M. M. Postman did some minor editing to account for new research done between Power’s death and the publication of her lectures. Also, the historical facts tend to hold, while Power’s interpretation of them is often what is outdated.
Medieval Women is a thoughtful, highly readable introduction to its topic. Readers already deeply familiar with the history and literature of the Middle Ages will probably not find a lot of that is new here. But readers looking to start learning about women of the Middle Ages will do well to start here.
February 4, 2014
Fascinating book. I read it years ago and kept it for years so I could read it again but probably gave this book away hoping someone else would enjoy it as much as I did. Eileen Power died in 1940 and Medieval Women was collated by her historian husband, M. M. Postan, from her notes and lectures into a social history relevant today. She wrote refreshingly well, she brought alive women who lived so long ago we no longer understand their mindset and yet somehow they are still women with similar likes and dislikes but with strange quirks and fears. I especially liked the chapter on the nuns who tattled to the visiting mother superior on their sister nuns for the most minor transgressions. This part reads as if it happened now; so 21st century! I have also read her Medieval People which I have to add to this Goodreads list and which is available as a free public domain ebook from Amazon, digitalized by volunteers. Why not Medieval Women as an ebook too?
For anyone who likes history--especially social history, this is a wonderful book. It's like stepping into a time capsule and being right there--what? 800 or so years ago. A delight.
For anyone who likes history--especially social history, this is a wonderful book. It's like stepping into a time capsule and being right there--what? 800 or so years ago. A delight.
January 12, 2014
Yes, I'm making headway into my medieval research, actually finished a book! This one was pretty good, and it gave me some ideas for my novel, which is helpful, too. Her writing style is kind of quirky, though, with mixed styles from sentence sentence and lack of clarity between quotes and her own language. But it seemed well researched, fairly objective (her opinion is there in her quirkiness, but only inasmuch as it seems to reflect the people's own perceptions of their culture. That is, she doesn't seem to be judging anything by modern or contemporary standards), and enlightening about some misconceptions.
August 8, 2017
An interesting look at the life of women in the Middle Ages.
Firstly, an interesting aspect of Eileen's work is that the book isn't something she actually assembled herself, unfortunately. Rather, it was put together after her death, with the essays she composed compiled into a book. How much this influences and impacts how the book is read and consumed is unknown, but it is interesting to wonder how different the book would be had it been something she made herself. That piece of information aside, the book gives an excellent look at how women acted and were treated in the Middle Ages, and the different Medieval views of their role within society.
While prior knowledge of the Medieval era would be beneficial going into the book, it's not really necessary. The book is very accessible to those who are looking to know more about the era. It says a great deal about an author's writing style if they are able to write for both academics and the regular reader, which is exactly what Eileen is able to do.
Eileen gives a great insight into the medieval world, and the role of women in the different social castes, and how this developed throughout the period. What's great is that she mainly references medieval and early-modern sources on the different topics, rather than being influenced by more modern ideals and beliefs of the era.
If you are interested in history, medieval history and women's history, this is a fantastic book to read. It's a relatively quick and easy read if you're looking to learn a little something, or a just gradually getting into learning about the era. A must-read for anyone with an interest in history and women's history.
Firstly, an interesting aspect of Eileen's work is that the book isn't something she actually assembled herself, unfortunately. Rather, it was put together after her death, with the essays she composed compiled into a book. How much this influences and impacts how the book is read and consumed is unknown, but it is interesting to wonder how different the book would be had it been something she made herself. That piece of information aside, the book gives an excellent look at how women acted and were treated in the Middle Ages, and the different Medieval views of their role within society.
While prior knowledge of the Medieval era would be beneficial going into the book, it's not really necessary. The book is very accessible to those who are looking to know more about the era. It says a great deal about an author's writing style if they are able to write for both academics and the regular reader, which is exactly what Eileen is able to do.
Eileen gives a great insight into the medieval world, and the role of women in the different social castes, and how this developed throughout the period. What's great is that she mainly references medieval and early-modern sources on the different topics, rather than being influenced by more modern ideals and beliefs of the era.
If you are interested in history, medieval history and women's history, this is a fantastic book to read. It's a relatively quick and easy read if you're looking to learn a little something, or a just gradually getting into learning about the era. A must-read for anyone with an interest in history and women's history.
February 17, 2019
Esta obra es un compilado de análisis históricos sobre el rol de las mujeres durante la época medieval. Como tal, está basado en registros escritos respecto a los deberes y obligaciones, los orígenes y el destino de mujeres de todo tipo durante este tiempo.
Dividido según temáticas, la exploración abarca desde las nociones (correctas e incorrectas) que hoy en día tenemos, el prestigio de las Damas, el arduo trabajo de las mujeres trabajadoras de las ciudades y el campo, las espeluznantes tradiciones del matrimonio y la maternidad impuestas sobre ellas y las pocas opciones de educación formal a las que una mujer podía acceder: los conventos o las casas de señorío.
En una mirada bastante moderna (pero lamentablemente sin tocar el tema de la sexualidad, que hubiera sido interesante), Eileen Power pinta una imagen clarísima y emotiva de las mujeres en la edad media.
Dividido según temáticas, la exploración abarca desde las nociones (correctas e incorrectas) que hoy en día tenemos, el prestigio de las Damas, el arduo trabajo de las mujeres trabajadoras de las ciudades y el campo, las espeluznantes tradiciones del matrimonio y la maternidad impuestas sobre ellas y las pocas opciones de educación formal a las que una mujer podía acceder: los conventos o las casas de señorío.
En una mirada bastante moderna (pero lamentablemente sin tocar el tema de la sexualidad, que hubiera sido interesante), Eileen Power pinta una imagen clarísima y emotiva de las mujeres en la edad media.
November 30, 2019
Short and yet incredibly informative, this slight volume packs a punch that some of it's longer cousins lack. I've read a number of histories of medieval women, but none so informative and so concise. There are only five chapters (I skipped the rather long author biography at the beginning), each addressing a different aspect of women's lives in the middle ages. While it has a lot of the same information as Women at Work in the Middle Ages or Women in the Middle Ages, Power's style is so direct and to the point that I found I enjoyed it a great deal more. Highly recommend.
November 5, 2021
A slim volume, less than a hundred pages of actual text, but well worth buying if you have any interest in women's history.
Eileen Power must have enjoyed writing this as there are several amusing anecdotes, such as unruly nnuns causing problems for church leaders who tried to bring them under control. Overall, though, it is a serious study with, I think, one central message; Medieval women were very self aware and were not as downtrodden as you might think.
Eileen Power must have enjoyed writing this as there are several amusing anecdotes, such as unruly nnuns causing problems for church leaders who tried to bring them under control. Overall, though, it is a serious study with, I think, one central message; Medieval women were very self aware and were not as downtrodden as you might think.
September 11, 2024
I really liked this! Powers gave a thorough, albeit short, overview of the figurative and literal positions of women in Europe across a wide period. Despite this books being dated (early drafts from the 1930s), not much has changed in our understanding of women’s history in the medieval era; nonetheless, Powers makes some serious corrections in the thinking of and before her time, allowing for the complexities of women’s history to guide her.
April 29, 2019
This book is a series of lectures and notes that were written up by Power's husband after her death. The editing is superb, and it reads like a book that was written and published as a book. Because Power was an economist, she was mostly interested in women's work and contribution to the economy. The book was good for that aspect but didn't delve into everyday life.
January 3, 2025
Too often we take expectations and view historical evidence to fit. This was a great readjustment of how I perceived history, albeit abrupt at times and missing wider significance.
The foreword about Eileen Power's life was deserving of its own volume; the book is so much her own that I got glimpses of her world throughout the wider text. An imperfect, yet worthwhile, book.
The foreword about Eileen Power's life was deserving of its own volume; the book is so much her own that I got glimpses of her world throughout the wider text. An imperfect, yet worthwhile, book.
May 15, 2017
If only Mrs Power had lived longer and completed this book (compiled from her Lectures), but I doubt it could have been any better. Must read for any student of Women's history, and great for the general reader as well.
June 8, 2017
Very enjoyable scholarly treatise based upon the author's lectures on the topic of medieval women's lives, work and education. I thought it was well researched and appreciated the references to her sources.
April 3, 2020
a small book, interesting tho. In these times a single woman could not have ownership, but if/when husband died, she could take over his business, and land would go into her name. More progressive that I'd thought. BUT if she re-married, it goes to him.
August 19, 2021
A slender volume but very enjoyable to read. How often can one say that of a history text.
The charm of this book is that it manages to throw up unexpected anecdotes of how women were much more independent and much less silent than we moderns might have realised.
The charm of this book is that it manages to throw up unexpected anecdotes of how women were much more independent and much less silent than we moderns might have realised.
November 7, 2024
Very interesting, I learned a lot! but it is sad bc it’s very clear this isn’t a comprehensive book but a collection of lectures…wish she would’ve been able to put together a whole book herself before her death.
September 23, 2019
Groundbreaking social history writing, by a WOMAN ???? YES PLEASE.
November 6, 2019
Es interesante cómo va describiendo la Concepción de la mujer desde la historia y como menciona a Maria como icono de feminidad..
April 22, 2020
Really interesting read and great as easy to read in one sitting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews