Unquiet women : stories from the dusk of the Roman Empire to the dawn of the Enlightenment

Unquiet Women is an exquisitely crafted patchwork of the forgotten lives of some of the most remarkable women in history. History is polyphonic; it must be told by many voices. In Unquiet Women , Max Adams brings to life the voices and experiences of women living between the last days of Rome and the Enlightenment, whose stories of creativity, intellect and influence are all too rarely told. From Wynflæd, the Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who owned male slaves and badger-skin gowns, to Mary Astell, the philosopher who out-thought John Locke, this is a kaleidoscopic study of women's history before the Enlightenment changed everything. In this rigorous work of rescue and recovery, their voices can be heard across the centuries – still passionate and still strong. Reviews: 'A centuries-spanning study that rescues women's lives from the margins of history' BBC History Magazine 'Illuminating and wise... An important book' Herald 'A timely work which is beautifully designed and executed, embodying the charm and power of the remarkable women within its pages' All About History Unquiet Women Is An Exquisitely Crafted Patchwork Of The Forgotten Lives Of Some Of The Most Remarkable Women In History. Wynflæd Was An Anglo-saxon Noblewoman Who Owned Male Slaves And Badger-skin Gowns; Egeria A Gaulish Nun Who Toured The Holy Land As The Roman Empire Was Collapsing; Gudrid An Icelandic Explorer And The First Woman To Give Birth To A European Child On American Soil; Mary Astell A Philosopher Who Out-thought John Locke. In This Exploration Of The Lives Of Women Living Between The Last Days Of Rome And The Enlightenment, Max Adams Triumphantly Overturns The Idea That Women Of This Period Were Either Queens, Nuns Or Invisible. A Kaleidoscopic Study Of Women's Creativity, Intellect And Influence, Unquiet Women Brings To Life The Experiences Of Women Whose Stories Are All Too Rarely Told. Thanks To Its Author's Rigorous Work Of Rescue And Recovery, Their Voices Can Be Heard Across The Centuries – Still Passionate And Still Strong. 'Wynflaed was an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who owned male slaves and badger-skin gowns; Egeria a Gaulish nun who toured the Holy Land as the Roman Empire was collapsing; Gudfrid an Icelandic explorer and the first woman to give birth to a European child on American soil; Mary Astell a philosopher who out-thought John Locke. In this exploration of some of remarkable - but little-known - women living between the last days of Rome and the Enlightenment, Max Adams overturns the idea that women of this period were either queens, nuns or invisible. In a sequence of chronological chapters, a centrepiece biographical sketch is complemented by thematically linked stories of other women of the time. A multi-faceted and beautifully illustrated study of women's intellect, influence and creativity, Extraordinary Women brings to life the experiences of women whose voices are barely heard and whose stories are rarely told." --Publisher description Wynfld was an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who owned male slaves and badger-skin gowns; Egeria a Gaulish nun who toured the Holy Land as the Roman Empire was collapsing; Gudfrid an Icelandic explorer and the first woman to give birth to a European child on American soil; Mary Astell a philosopher who out-thought John Locke. In this exploration of some of remarkable but little-known women living between between the last days of Rome and the Enlightenment, Max Adams overturns the idea that women of this period were either queens, nuns or invisible. In a sequence of chronological chapters, a centrepiece biographical sketch is complemented by thematically linked stories of other women of the time. A multi-faceted and beautifully illustrated study of women's intellect, influence and creativity, Extraordinary Women brings to life the experiences of women whose voices are barely heard and whose stories are rarely told. There is a common thread of restlessness, an unquiet spirit of curiosity and creativity, of passion and determination, in the lives of the women whose stories are told in this book. At all times, and in the face of oppression, ignorance and the casual hand of fate, women have found ways and means to tell their stories and to negotiate access to power -- from book jacket In a fascinating journey of rediscovery, Max Adams brings to life the forgotten experiences – and voices – of some of the most extraordinary women in history.