Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife

Hetta Howes shines a bright spotlight on four women from the Middle Ages who have been almost forgotten or ignored for far too long. This period in history has always fascinated me and I know how very difficult it is to accurately research.
Marie de France, Christine de Pizan, Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe all lived before the era of mechanical printing but their writing continues to stand the test of time.
The author looks closely at her primary sources but also delves much deeper to reveal a compelling, surprising, and often shocking glimpse of what life and death was like for women in the Middle Ages. She offers a perceptive comparison between past and present and in some ways it is hard to believe just how much has hardly changed across the course of several centuries.
These four extraordinary women were determined to craft a legacy that endures. From them there is still so much we can learn. The past has never been more relevant now that we must face the dangers of an uncertain future.

A spectacular, vivid and ground-breaking work of history that takes us into the minds and lives of medieval women. Superb writing from this author, a very eye catching cover, this book will go far, 5 stars. Blindingly excellent ... This book should come with a disclaimer as once you start reading you aren’t going to want to walk away.