Non-Fiction - shortlisted for Book of the Month
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non-fiction Anglo Saxon England
7th Century - 11th Century
England
If you think that the women of
the Dark Ages simply sat back with their embroidery and took little notice of
what their husbands or sons, brothers, uncles or cousins were doing, then think again!
Women of those times were hugely influential and Annie Whitehead proves it time and again in this excellent account of life and role of women in those
turbulent eras of English history.
For the most part, each section
is dealt with chronologically, which is most helpful. The author
has very much kept the reader in mind in making this an easier read than one
might think, given all those awkward Anglo-Saxon names and very convoluted family
relationships. Family trees are equally useful and thankfully these are
included as well.
The women themselves range from
wicked to saintly, pushy mothers and wives and even a 'Warrior Queen' – though
whether Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, actually wielded a sword is
obviously debatable. Also debatable is the reliability of sources and Ms
Whitehead examines the discrepancies, omissions, insertions and sometimes
tall tales with a level-headed and unbiased neutrality, offering her own interpretations
but always with solid research as her back-up. What comes through very clearly
is that many of these women would have been of little worth had it not been for
their bloodlines. Yet there were many of 'low birth' who rose to power.
Several black and white plates
show the main locations of power – castles and abbeys – as well as a splendid
line drawing. Especially pleasing was an appendix of the women who were
canonised together with the deeds they were credited with for achieving their
sainthoods.
All in all, this is an essential
work for those interested, professionally or not, in this period. Highly recommended as an essential for any reader or writer's bookshelf who interested in Anglo Saxon English history.
© Richard Tearle
e-version ARC reviewed
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