Forgotten women of history shine brightly

 

 ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑  Femina authored by Janina Ramirez is a fascinating, approachable read for anyone interested in the Middle Ages. The focus is on women who have been written out of history but by no means is it solely about the fairer sex. There is great detail on influential men of the time, too, and how they helped and, sometimes, hindered these women so don't be put off if you worry this will be raging feminist in tone. It is not. Femina is balanced and, as I said above, approachable and conversational. A delight to tuck into.

The ability to paint a vivid picture of time and place puts this book in an enviable position. Janina Ramirez excels with this immersive text. Each section gives the low down on the political and religious conditions of the time as well as a glimpse into the everyday regional happenings. It feels very much like stepping out of a time machine into the distant past, so far removed from a dusty old historical tome.

The women highlighted in Femina are of great significance. Alfred the Great's daughter AEthelflaed, Hildegard, Jadwiga, Cathar women and the weavers of the Bayeux Tapestry all enjoy fruitful investigation from our intrepid author. Such a diversity of characters all worthy of deeper research with enlightening stories for modern readers. For me the least interesting was the chapter on Margery Kempe's self published book of her life, from the 1400s. Nothing against Margery, but maybe it's the fact that she's a bit of a busybody full of her own self-importance that put me off? Maybe it's because we all know someone like Margery and they aren't the people you tend to form strong attachments to? It matters not as her story has value, too, being such a rare account of life from this period. She would have been tickled pink to be included amongst this set of powerful and incredible women, I have no doubt.