Femina

A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Written Out of It

By: Janina Ramirez

Narrated by: Janina Ramirez

A groundbreaking reappraisal of medieval femininity, revealing why women have been written out of history and why it matters

The Middle Ages are seen as a bloodthirsty time of Vikings, saints and kings; a patriarchal society that oppressed and excluded women. But when we dig a little deeper into the truth, we can see that the “Dark” Ages were anything but.

Oxford and BBC historian Janina Ramirez has uncovered countless influential women’s names struck out of historical records, with the word FEMINA annotated beside them. As gatekeepers of the past ordered books to be burned, artworks to be destroyed, and new versions of myths, legends and historical documents to be produced, our view of history has been manipulated.

Only now, through a careful examination of the artifacts, writings and possessions they left behind, are the influential and multifaceted lives of women emerging. Femina goes beyond the official records to uncover the true impact of women, such as:

• Jadwiga, the only female king in Europe
• Margery Kempe, who exploited her image and story to ensure her notoriety
• Loftus Princess, whose existence gives us clues about the beginnings of Christianity in England

In Femina, Ramirez invites us to see the medieval world with fresh eyes and discover why these remarkable women were removed from our collective memories.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Interesting

I liked the continuous time line and the connections to various people through the ages.

Fascinating look at the “silent majority”

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I didn’t know how engaged I’d be since I am not a Medieval scholar/enthusiast, but I was hooked. I picked up this book because I wanted to learn more about the lesser told stories of women in history, and it did not disappoint.

Femina was extremely well-written and narrated. The chapters were nicely broken into smaller digestible subsections which really helped in highlighting the author’s points and keeping the reader engaged.
(My only suggestion would be to add the images from the physical copy in the Audible pdf. When I didn’t have the physical copy in front of me, I was having to Google images referenced, ex: Bayeux tapestry)

This book has made me interested in learning more about these fascinating women in Medieval history. I will be going to Normandy this summer and have now added the Bayeux tapestry as a must-see. If I ever find myself in Krakow, I’ll be sure to swing by Jadwiga’s tomb and pay my respects. And as a Swede, I’ll need to add Birka as a stop next time I’m in Stockholm. I’m proud to have these women’s stories brought to my attention.

Thank you, Janina, for sharing this research and reminding us to ask “questions about what stories [we’re] not hearing”.

interesting, not as feminist as one would fear

I liked this book very much. The title and the blurb made me a bit hesitant, because I don't care for extreme views nor for people with a point to prove. But this is a well-rounded collection of stories of people (yes, of the female variety, but that isn't really the point) that normally fall through the cracks of time. Very informative and well narrated.

Must read

This may be the best book I've read all year. I'm a history buff and learned quite a few surprising things from this book. It's well written and narration is perfect.

Too short

I would love another volume of women’s stories. Responsibly written and thoughtful acknowledgment that there is much left to learn.