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Women in History - Women of the Middle Ages
Medieval women filled many roles. They worked as peasants, city-dwellers with a trade or business, healers, advocates, estate administrators, queens, religious women, writers and artists.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
112 pages, Library Binding
First published December 9, 2002
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 13, 2012
Discovered in the history section of the library (and thinking it was a coffee table book); I unknowingly stumbled upon a YA history book by Ruth Dean and Melissa Thomason entitled, “Women of the Middle Ages”. Alright, I thought; I’ll give it a chance anyway.
“Women of the Middle Ages” begins with an introductory overview of the Middle Ages in Europe (the coverage isn’t limited to English studies as most seem to be). The overview is brief, simplified, and written in a style best suited for a middle school-level individual. Even the annotations/quotes are that of a child writing a history report. Even more saddening are the authors’ habit of quoting the same (approximately) three historians throughout which provides a very confined scope of the information.
Another disappointment is that although Dean and Thomason provide a splendid amount of beautiful illustrations, they are in black and white which takes away from the impact they could have had.
On a more positive note, “Women of the Middle Ages” DOES dive into women’s studies and does so in an easy to understand and clear way beginning with the life of peasant wives and moving up the social ladder. Although none of the information is groundbreaking to those familiar to the topic; there are some very interesting coverage articles. It can be argued that the information is dated (as the book is published in 2003 and the sources used date to the late 90s); however, the information is such an overview that it is not negatively affected by the time stamps. Plus, “Women of the Middle Ages” is presented in a way which would certainly interest the target market (younger readers) and induce further reading on the Middle Ages versus bore and cause yawns.
Despite the juvenile-reading level, “Women of the Middle Ages” covers a large range of information including: everyday life, home life, professions, religion, marriages, administrative duties, myths, arts, etc. This is also accompanied with smaller highlights of both well-known figures (example: Joan of Arc and Eleanor of Aquitaine), and of those whom a reader may not be familiar with (but should be). Again, Dean and Thomason encourage further exploring. Sadly, at times the information is repetitive.
Although “Women of the Middle Ages” reads like a children’s history book; it surprisingly is even-paced, entertaining, and crisp. Even as an adult reader with extensive material knowledge; I did not find myself bored. Thus, “Women of the Middle Ages” is a quick, well-witted book for younger readers as an introductory course to the time period.
“Women of the Middle Ages” begins with an introductory overview of the Middle Ages in Europe (the coverage isn’t limited to English studies as most seem to be). The overview is brief, simplified, and written in a style best suited for a middle school-level individual. Even the annotations/quotes are that of a child writing a history report. Even more saddening are the authors’ habit of quoting the same (approximately) three historians throughout which provides a very confined scope of the information.
Another disappointment is that although Dean and Thomason provide a splendid amount of beautiful illustrations, they are in black and white which takes away from the impact they could have had.
On a more positive note, “Women of the Middle Ages” DOES dive into women’s studies and does so in an easy to understand and clear way beginning with the life of peasant wives and moving up the social ladder. Although none of the information is groundbreaking to those familiar to the topic; there are some very interesting coverage articles. It can be argued that the information is dated (as the book is published in 2003 and the sources used date to the late 90s); however, the information is such an overview that it is not negatively affected by the time stamps. Plus, “Women of the Middle Ages” is presented in a way which would certainly interest the target market (younger readers) and induce further reading on the Middle Ages versus bore and cause yawns.
Despite the juvenile-reading level, “Women of the Middle Ages” covers a large range of information including: everyday life, home life, professions, religion, marriages, administrative duties, myths, arts, etc. This is also accompanied with smaller highlights of both well-known figures (example: Joan of Arc and Eleanor of Aquitaine), and of those whom a reader may not be familiar with (but should be). Again, Dean and Thomason encourage further exploring. Sadly, at times the information is repetitive.
Although “Women of the Middle Ages” reads like a children’s history book; it surprisingly is even-paced, entertaining, and crisp. Even as an adult reader with extensive material knowledge; I did not find myself bored. Thus, “Women of the Middle Ages” is a quick, well-witted book for younger readers as an introductory course to the time period.
Displaying 1 of 1 review