This
beautifully illustrated, large format volume accompanies the British
Library's major Autumn exhibition which seeks to recover women's voices,
visions and experiences in Britain and Europe from around 1100 to 1500. Women
of this period, whether as authors, artists, scribes, patrons, readers,
wives, mothers, daughters, leaders, workers, makers, traders and more, tell
their histories through their own words and reveal them through their own
images, artworks and documents.
Through a
selection of detailed expert essays and some 40 spotlight studies, Medieval
Women reveals a rich and complex picture of their world, full of colourful
characters and intriguing stories from famous personalities such as Christine
de Pizan, Joan of Arc and Julian of Norwich, to lesser-known figures such as
Sibilla von Bondorff, Clemence of Barking and Margaret Paston. Both the
exhibition, and this accompanying book, will showcase star items from the
British Library and major European collections as well as bringing to light
little-known, deeply resonant, and highly personal, gems and keepsakes from
this fascinating era.