Women in the Middle Ages: illuminating the world of peasants, nuns, and queens

Abstract

"Medieval women ruled over kingdoms, abbeys, and households; produced stunning works of art and craft; and did the hard work that kept ordinary families fed and clothed. Though women's contributions were often diminished or completely ignored in written accounts, art tells a different story: women appear everywhere, from the margins of illuminated manuscripts to grand tapestries. In this abundantly illustrated book, historian Gemma Hollman uses the visual as well as the written record to uncover the real lives of medieval European women at every level of society."-- From back of cover.