This book is styled as a series of essays focusing on different people, locations and archaeological finds, all joined by the overarching purpose of telling women’s stories, a century at a time. There are stories of diplomacy, warfare, religious leadership, literacy and artistic production - “It wasn’t just rich and powerful men who built the modern world. Women have always been part of it, as has the full range of human diversity.”

Femina takes a journey from early Medieval England (or, more accurately, Northumbria, Mercia and Wessex) to Scandinavia, down to the Rhineland then further to southern France, before heading back up to Poland. It concludes in Britain, with Margery Kempe and her travels across Europe and South West Asia, before the women of the book are placed within the context of a medieval world of diverse genders, sexual orientations, disabilities, races and heritages.

If you’re interested in medieval history, there are a lot of familiar faces: Hildegard of Bingen, the women from the Oseburg ship, the Birka warrior, Aethelflaed Lady of Mercia (who I have a massive crush on). There are also less well known stories, like Mercian queen and Abbess Cynethryth, and the Loftus princess.

Dr Ramirez also covers an important context of modern medieval studies, which is the way it’s co-opted by nazis and various European nationalists. This is particularly relevant with regard to the way 19th, 20th and 21st century nazis, and British and German nationalists, have hijacked an inaccurate and propagandist version of viking history. I was pleased to see this covered, since it is difficult to engage with popular medieval history without bumping into white supremacy.

This book was a joy from start to finish.

For the first ten per cent of the book, I was thinking 'this is interesting and I realise women have been almost written out of history (by and large) but there's quite an emphasis on men' then various women came into view and we were away! It made me reach for my laptop to research my own little queries, which is always a good thing in my opinion. Fascinating.

I thoroughly enjoyed this in-depth re-examination of the middle-ages, told through the stories of women. With each chapter broadly taking in a century, Ramírez covers a broad spectrum of European history, but she does so by focusing specifically on a particular woman or community of women at a time. This is a history rich in detail - and I found myself not only learning about new and fascinating characters, but really getting a sense of the world they lived in.

Ramírez also provides some context of where these women sit in the study of history, and - as is often the case - how they have been rediscovered. While it's impossible to view these women through the lens of modern day feminism, it's fascinating to see medieval women who are empowered by their sex in different ways. But not only does our contemporary culture influence how we view history, Ramírez also shows how our understanding of the past shapes the present. And that's why books like Femina are some important.

A must-read for anyone interested in medieval history.

Unlike others, I hadn´t known the author before, but the subject interested me very much. Janina Ramirez didn´t disappoint in this academical work about women of the Middle Ages that is also easily readable for non-experts. I knew most of the women that influenced history as kings (not queens!), healers, religious visionaries or supporters of art, but it was nonetheless interesting to read more about them and about others I hadn´t known before. Women with no big names or titles only got the last chapter in the book, but it was good to hear about them too. It would be worth another book to focus on them alone.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book should be recommended reading in school history lessons, and for anyone who had a history education consisting of memorising dates of battles and wars and wondering where the women were.

The book tells the stories of periods of history and the overlooked women who existed in those periods. I only studied history at school, a very long time ago, and could never understand why anyone would want to study it any longer than that. Now I understand. This is a thought provoking book, very well written and researched.

I particularly like how each story is structured with a discovery and then in depth look at the life and times of the people of that period.

I highly recommend this book and will be seeking out other work from this author.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced e-copy of this book for review.

A fascinating read about women throughout history, full of interesting stories and details about those women who have been forgotten, or never even mentioned. Well written and easy to read, it's perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about women's roles in history. Recommended.

I‘m a sucker for anything about overlooked women from history, be it fiction or nonfiction, so I 100% had to get my hands on this. Now, I’m not really a big history buff and I tend to like my history in small, easy to consume doses (I’m easily overwhelmed!) and this wasn’t that. But, not in a bad way. It’s wonderfully written and it’s jam-packed full of facts and interesting tidbits. The author, a popular historian, goes off on a lot of strange but intriguing tangents. The book covers a whole host of different topics, one of my favourites being women who were buried in their beds (it’s as much effort as it sounds). I learned about secret religious symbols in jewellery, the origin of the fish symbol being used in Christianity, mediaeval rumours, how the Bayeux Tapestry was created, who’s on it, and which swimming pool they were rumoured to want to wash it in. This book was such a wild ride and it took me a while to read it because I was trying to soak it all in, and I think I might have to read it again to absorb all the information but it was worth it.

It turns out there’s some really interesting womxn in the middle ages, from classist nun’s to child kings and, my personal favourite, Margery Kempe. Her book has definitely gone on my wishlist because I need to know more about Margery’s life as a mystic, in her own words.

I, as a non-academic, found this book to be very interesting and informative. It shone a light on the women of the 'dark ages' and I enjoyed reading it. This would, I feel, appeal to researchers, amateur history buffs and readers who just like an interesting subject.

Despite our misconceptions this book gives us an insight into times gone by when women were respected and listened to. I have learnt about women that I have never heard of before. Thoroughly informative and so well written.

What's the book about?

A reassessment of medieval femininity, uncovering why game changing women have been erased from history and why it makes a difference.

My thoughts:
This is the kind of book that's a must have. An educational introduction to inspirational women and a definite read for everyone

They say that history is written by the victors and for much of time, men have been victorious.
Thus, history has concentrated on the actions and personalities of men.

In Femina, Janina Ramirez seeks to redress the balance by providing fascinating portraits of a range of exceptional Medieval women.

Femina shines with Ramirez's enthusiasm for sharing her Medieval favourites.

An enjoyable read for both, those already familiar with the Medieval period and the newly introduced.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.

I really liked the concept of this book about women being left out of history - which had its own term FEMINA.
There were some really interesting insights and some detailed research that would lead me to further research and reading especially on Hild of Whitby and the three women featured in The Bayeux Tapestry (Embroidery as it should be known)
But the book tends to skip across lots of subjects - often quite confusing to the reader. It also (obviously a theme for feminist writing) want to connect both genderfluidity and patriarchy as viable concepts which caused all this. I have no problem with trying to make this work but not just for the sake of including the terms.
Historians make of history what they want and I felt it was an opportunity spoiled by ignoring the very strengths of some great women in trapping them in 21st century concepts.
However this is a good book in which to discover many fascinating women and their roles in historical power - especially the church and monarchy. How in fact centuries ago they led from the front and died for the cause and were often recognised for those roles - despite over time writers (male) may have twisted the tales to only include the 'Great Men'.
I knew quite a bit about some mentioned and felt the stance of beginning with the suffragettes appealed to the American market specifically. But the detail of archaeological finds and good photos/illustrations meant later chapters produced better reading and not just for historians/academics.
Places of power included Hartlepool (which was a surprise) for medieval women of power and the status of Nuns/convents emphasised not just the power of women but often their complicit partnership with males within whatever religion they too supported.
We have a long way to go to achieve equality - some may say we are retreating. This book dips a full toe in the murky medieval waters but maybe does a bit too much widespread splashing.

I've always been fascinated by women in Middle Age and their role in history. You can start with Matilda of Tuscany who played a relevant role in the dispute between the pope and the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI to mystics like Hildegarde or Julian of Norwich.
They role is often downplayed or their name are not as well known as they should be.
This is a good book, well researched and honest. I was hooked since the fascinating introduction and didn't stop till the last page.
The author is an excellent storyteller and I learned something new.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A fascinating book which puts women back into history where they belong.

It is a real eye opener to how wrong we are to see our history as set in stone when so much of the truth is lost in both ancient and modern propaganda.

Personally I preferred those stories of individuals like Aethelflaed, Hildegard, Hedwig and Margery Kempe. Through the artefacts and records put together by the author I felt I was able to really get a sense of who these amazing women were, what their lives might have been like and how they made real differences to our history. I found real inspiration in some of their stories and awe at what they achieved in a time we think of as being so primitive. For example the incredibly gifted Hildegard, of the 12th century, who wrote books on theology, built a monastry, created her own language, her own style of music and was a very talented artist amongst other things. The thing about her which amazed me the most was that she did most of the work for which she is now known in the last 3-4 decades of her life-living well into her 80’s!

I have to confess however that I found the more fragmented accounts of the Bayeaux Tapestry and the Cathards were much harder to follow and engage with. This was possibly made harder by the frequent use of terminologies very specific to the Catholic church- I was pleased to be reading this on the Kindle app so could get immediate definitions on words such as ‘Anchoress’!

In fact I was surprised to find that the whole book was very much orientated towards christianity (mostly catholicism) the only exception being the discovery of the Birka Viking Warrior woman. I imagine that maybe this is a reflection of the fact that having strong connections to the church was one of the few ways women were able to get their voices heard during this period. Also that records were almost exclusively written by members of the christian faith who were amongst the few who were educated to write.

These women are inspirational and deserve to have their stories shouted from the rooftops. Hopefully this amazing collection of chronological biographies by Janina Ramirez will open a door for people to start doing just that.

Many thanks to Janina Ramirez and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

FEMINA: A NEW HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE AGES provides new insight into the world of the Loftus Princes, Hildegarde of Bingen, and the Birka Warrior Woman - to name just a few. It shows us a world where women were better respected and listened to than we have previously imagined, or thought from reading historical documents. The works of these women, their voices, have disappeared through the years, some accidentally, some on purpose. Some of them have survived, but have been changed by male historians from the time periods that came after. And some, like Hildegarde, have been saved by brave and courageous acts.

Each section focuses on a different woman and gives the reader a glimpse into their lives and achievements. It shows how well-travelled the world was at a time when you think everyone stayed 'at home'. I have learnt about Jadwiga of Poland which I had never heard of before, plus others.

I found this to be an intriguing and interesting book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and I have no hesitation in recommending it.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

Femina is a history book focused on the middle ages through the lens of women living in that period. I was intrigued to take a look at a period of history which I'm vaguely familiar with, but I wasn't sure what to expect.

I do feel that the book was let down by the first couple of chapters which, to be frank, didn't really interest me. However, some chapters were great - the section on polymaths was fascinating, as was the chapter on kings/diplomats. At the end of the day, Femina isn't a bad book, it's just not the most accessible to those without a history background - particularly a medieval history background.

Ramirez' Femina is one of the best explorations of medieval women that I have ever read.

Exploring women such as Hild of Whitby, Aethlflaed (depicted in TVs Last Kingdom), the Birka Warrior Woman, Queen Emma (as seen in Vikings Valhalla), Hildegard, and the Cathers' of Languedoc (familiar to those who have read Kate Mosse' Labyrinth). Ramirez presents an interesting and thought-provoking exploration of these women, immersing you within the world of these women - the sights, the sounds, the smells. A certain amount of speculation and interpretation is required - as is always the case where limited information is available - but I found Ramirez to be compelling in her thoughts and opinions.

A must read for those interested in this subject area.

I love the wave of new examinations of the past. I'm fascinated by the idea of giving a voice to those who have for so long, been almost written out of history and I was attracted to this book because it promised to do exactly that. I'm also a huge fan of Janina Ramirez' TV work, having been introduced to it via a documentary about Sutton Hoo, which my youngest was obsessed with watching, so I began reading this book with a high level of expectation.

I was not disappointed.

Throughout, I kept stopping to tell my husband about some interesting fact that had been mentioned. I'd never heard of the Loftus Princess, but the comparisons between her burial and the one at Sutton Hoo, mean that I'm keen to learn more about her. I'd been vaguely aware of the status of women in the Viking world, thanks to a Horrible Histories sketch, particularly with regards to domestic violence. However, reading it made me wonder why it is that modern society seems to have regressed so far in this area. If societies at the time could give women autonomy to leave such relationships, why do we get it so wrong today?

The standout story however, is that of Hildegard of Bingen. Nun, musician, visionary, her book was smuggled out of Soviet occupied Germany in 1948, thanks to the bravery of two women. A fact which seems incredibly fitting. I got very excited when she was mentioned in a children's TV programme I was watching with my six year old

The final few pages are interesting in their own right though. Dr Ramirez discusses issues of gender and sexuality - a very current topic in society - through the lens of historical figures. It was a fascinating insight into the topic. Again, there was a Horrible Histories related fact that caught my eye - the Roman Emperor Elagabalus apparently liked to be referred to by female pronouns and allegedly discussed gender reassignment surgery.

This is a fascinating insight into the lives of women who deserve to be far more well known than they are and it is my sincere hope that this will not be the last book to give such people a voice.

This is well worth a read.

I have always been a history lover and so to have the chance to read Femina was a wonderful opportunity that I didn't want to miss - I am so very glad I did! What a fascinating read created by Ramirez who has created a piece of art with this book.

Combining crucial evidence from archaeological finds, excerpts from written accounts, scenes from artwork and historical theory with her innate storytelling, Ramirez really lifts the lid from these medieval women and brings their lives to the fore. Whilst admitting she is writing from a prejudiced viewpoint, purposely writing to put women back into their history, this account feels truthful and honest. The women she represents are not put onto a pedestal, but their lives are honestly examined and their achievements are laid bare for the reader to make their own judgements about how remarkable they were.

I feel this would be a useful text for all history syllabus' to draw upon and it makes real strides in putting women back into the history books - where they belong.

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

What a fascinating book! Some of the forgotten 50% of the population brought from their hiding places and breathed into life before our eyes. I knew a little of Margery Kempe and Hildegard but had never heard of the Loftus Princess, Jadwiga, or many of the others that are written about. As well as the histories of the women, there is some wonderful historical detail that I didn’t know before. The information about the multitude of races that coexisted in the city of London, how the Bayeaux tapestry was designed to fit a certain space, that the bodies in the plague pit were not just thrown in willy nilly but treated with respect, the sheer size of the plague pit. This is a book that I will revisit and would recommend to any history lover. 5 stars from me. This is my voluntary review of a free copy of the book. Many thanks to the author and NetGalley.