- 224 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
About this book
A broad-ranging exploration of the everyday lives of women—from social calls to medical needs—during one of English history's most fascinating periods.
Maids, wives, and widows were the official classifications of women according to English law in the early modern era, immediately following the medieval period. In this fascinating study of the time, historian Sara Read shows "how varied, rich, joyous, and sociable early modern women's lives were, not to mention just how busy or difficult they could be" (Read, from the introduction).
Read delves into how these women filled their days, including vivid details of what they liked to eat and drink, what jobs they held, and how they raised their children. With chapters devoted to beauty regimes, fashion, and literature, the book examines the cultural and domestic aspects of life, as well as how women understood and dealt with their monthly periods and what it was like to give birth in a time before modern obstetric care was available.
Maids, Wives, Widows also highlights key moments in women's history such as the 1671 publication of the first midwifery guide by Jane Sharp; the turmoil caused by the Civil Wars of the 1640s; the various new religious sects in which women participated to a surprising extent; and many others. Also scrutinized are cases of notorious criminals such as murderer Sarah Malcolm and confidence trickster Mary Toft who pretended to give birth to rabbits.
Maids, wives, and widows were the official classifications of women according to English law in the early modern era, immediately following the medieval period. In this fascinating study of the time, historian Sara Read shows "how varied, rich, joyous, and sociable early modern women's lives were, not to mention just how busy or difficult they could be" (Read, from the introduction).
Read delves into how these women filled their days, including vivid details of what they liked to eat and drink, what jobs they held, and how they raised their children. With chapters devoted to beauty regimes, fashion, and literature, the book examines the cultural and domestic aspects of life, as well as how women understood and dealt with their monthly periods and what it was like to give birth in a time before modern obstetric care was available.
Maids, Wives, Widows also highlights key moments in women's history such as the 1671 publication of the first midwifery guide by Jane Sharp; the turmoil caused by the Civil Wars of the 1640s; the various new religious sects in which women participated to a surprising extent; and many others. Also scrutinized are cases of notorious criminals such as murderer Sarah Malcolm and confidence trickster Mary Toft who pretended to give birth to rabbits.
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Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Yes, you can access Maids, Wives, Widows by Sara Read in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & British History. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Dedication
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Acknowledgements
- A Note on Original Texts
- Introduction
- Part I: Women’s Work
- Part II: Personal Care
- Part III: Women and Reproduction
- Part IV: Women and Religion
- Part V: Women in Public Life
- Bibliography