Reviews are coming in for the first few readers of
"The Secret Lives of Single Medieval Women" and it's good news!
While the first two understood what I was trying to achieve, the third felt that it was padded out because I, she supposed, had a lack of material. The review was mostly positive, but I really want to emphasise that the background knowledge and clothing information was included
on purpose because the
target audience of the book may not actually know any of this.
Here is the first review:
"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."
Here is the second review:
"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!"
Here's the third review:
"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.
I believe there are entire books dedicated to genderqueer folk, and it's such a huge topic that it's very hard to touch on it briefly and move on without addressing it properly. This is true for anchoresses and women involved in the military. The background knowledge is, of course, to medievalists mere background knowledge, but to readers who are just dipping their toe in, this provides that background knowledge.
I am trying to reply to the reviewer, but the site insists I need to be logged in when I already am. Very frustrating.
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Without a doubt, one of the most famous of single medieval women who travelled is our literary Prioress, a creation of 14th century writer, Chaucer. An illumination of her can be seen here.
