Medieval women : a social history of women in England, 450-1500

A unique recovery of the history of women's lives in England during the medieval period basing its scholarship on primary sources and not on the 19th century assumptions underlying most studies of the period. Leyser (medieval history, St. Peter's College and St. Edmund Hall, Oxford) describes women's contributions to their society from the entry of the Anglo-Saxons to the Anglo-Norman period, focusing on "everywoman" attitudes towards sex, marriage, motherhood, and work from the peasant to the aristocrat. The conclusion concentrates on questions of spirituality in female monasticism, and the literary images that characterize them. Includes illustrations. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Medieval Women Looks At A Thousand Years Of English History, As It Affected - And Was Made By - Women. The Book Opens With The Coming Of The Anglo-saxons To England In The Fifth Century And Looks At The Variety Of Sources That Can Throw Light On The Lives And Contributions To Their Society Of Women In The Dark Ages. It Moves Into The Anglo-norman Period With An Examination Of What 1066 May Have Meant For Women. The Focus Then Moves To Problems And Attitudes Fundamental To 'everywoman': Medieval Attitudes To Sex, Marriage And Motherhood; And The World Of Work And The Experience Of Widowhood For Peasant, Townswoman And Aristocrat. The Book Closes With An Exploration Of The Intellectual And Spiritual Worlds Of Medieval Women. Each Chapter Is Accompanied By Substantial Extracts From Primary Sources, Which Vividly Illustrate Medieval Thought And Assumptions. Pt. 1. The Anglo-saxons: Studies In Evidence. Ch. 1. Archaeology. Ch. 2. History And Hagiography. Ch. 3. Law Codes. Ch. 4. Vernacular Literature -- Pt. 2. The Eleventh Century. Ch. 5. 1066 For Women -- Pt. 3. The High And Later Middle Ages: Family Roles. Ch. 6. Sex, Marriage And Motherhood. Ch. 7. Women At Work. Ch. 8. Widows -- Pt. 4. Culture And Spirituality. Ch. 9. Female Monasticism. Ch. 10. Anchoresses And Recluses. Ch. 11. Lay Piety. Ch. 12. Literary Interests And Images. Henrietta Leyser. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 315-327) And Index.