The Extraordinary Lives of Ancient & Medieval Women

What was life really like for women in the ancient and medieval periods? How did they think about sex, death and God? Could they live independent lives? And how can we hear their stories? Authors Dr Daisy Dunn and Dr Hetta Howes take us on an immersive journey into the everyday lives of extraordinary women of the past.

For centuries, men have been writing histories of antiquity filled with warlords, emperors and kings. But when it comes to incorporating women aside from Cleopatra and Boudica, writers have been more comfortable describing mythical heroines Penelope and Helen of Troy than their real-life counterparts. Award-winning author, classicist and cultural critic Dr Daisy Dunn seeks to put the women of history at the centre of the narrative. Through new examination of the sources combined, Daisy shows us the ancient world through fresh eyes, and introduces us to an incredible cast of ancient women, weavers of an entire world.

Few women had the luxury of writing down their thoughts and feelings during medieval times. But remarkably, there are a number of women who did, ultimately pushing back against the misogyny of the period and leaving us with incredible insights into the world of medieval life and politics. Dr Hetta Howes, author of Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife: The Extraordinary Lives of Medieval Women, has spent her working life uncovering these women’s stories, and joins Daisy to share with us valuable insight into their lives that challenges what we think we know about medieval women in Europe. Women did earn money, they could live independent lives, and they thought, loved, fought and suffered just as we do today.