Women in the Middle Ages [Two Volumes] An Encyclopedia

Subjects:

• History » European History -- Medieval
• Women's Studies » Women's Studies (General)
• Literature » World Literature

Reviews:

• In coverage, depth, and scholarship, this set pulls far ahead of Jennifer Lawler's Encyclopedia of Women in the Middle Ages. This specialized but nicely done work is recommended for high school, public, and academic libraries.
  —Library Jounal April 1, 2005
• The 300 entries in this encyclopedia cover women's experience in the European medieval world and elsewhere (including Byzantium, the Arabic world, and China) between the 2nd and 15th centuries. Designed to be both accessible and authoritative, it communicates the fruits of 30 years of scholarship on medieval women to students, specialists, and general readers....Recommended. General and academic collections.
  —Choice September 2005
• For those interested in Arthurian studies, Women in the Middle Ages provides useful articles on most female figures in Arthurian tradition....The article on Morgan stands out as comprehensive and detailed, charting the evolution of this literary figure from her first appearance in the Vita Merlini to her later medieval position as Arthur's antagonist....The strength of this encyclopedia is that it will convince scholars and students of the diversity of women's experiences and actions throughout the Middle Ages. It will prove an important resource for student research assignments.
  —Arthuriana .
• As a resource on medieval women, the Encyclopedia is valuable for a readership ranging from undergraduates in medieval studiers and gender studies to more seasoned scholars in these fields. The generous, judiciously selected, and up-to-date bibliographies for each entry offer further direction for the more ambitious or expert reader, while the lucid, accessible prose style makes the volume readable for a more general reader. It is admirable to find such consistency of style throughout the Encyclopedia's two volumes, especially given the fact that it boasts an impressive number of leading scholars with otherwise quite distinct prose styles....[t]his is the kind of important reference work that, because of its breadth and clarity, as well as its depth of scholarship, has a place not only in university libraries and on medievalists' bookshelves, but also in general reference libraries everywhere.
  —The Medieval Review 2005
• [A] "must" for libraries serving medieval studies and women's studies departments... the two volumes are beautifully presented and solidly bound and would make a smart addition to any reference shelf ... These volumes will surely promote access to this field of study... With its broader geographical outlook, this encyclopedia helps put women and their contribution into a wider context and sets it apart from competing works.
  —Reference Reviews September 2005
• [T]his scholarly set is the most comprehensive guide to date to focus on women in the medieval world....While these volumes may not exhaust every topic a student wishes to pursue, they provide excellent guidance to hundred of subjects. The set is highly recommended for academic and medium-to-large public libraries.
  —Lawrence Looks at Books July 2005
• While providing scholars with a springboard from which to launch possible future forays into the Middle Ages, this reference work will prove indispensable to lecturers when introducing, and students when encountering, medieval women's lives for the first time. This reader feels fortunate to own a copy.
  —The History Review 2005
• [A] stimulating survey of just how much is out ther to explore.
  —Forum for Modern Language Studies 2005
• [S]uch an encyclopedia is invaluable to me, expanding my understanding of medieval women, how they thought, how they maneuvred around obstacles and limitations imposed on them. It can't help but expand the horizons of my medieval world, inspiring new steps for my choreography: characters, plots, subplots, political/economic intrgues, keys to mysteries, local color, cultural clashes and exchanges, and nuances of language.
  —Solander 2005
• An impressive work of reference and contribution to scholarship on the history of women. The Encyclopedia yields a wealth of information on topics as various as canon law, women composers, Japanese pillow books, Aztec warriors, embroidery, humanism, witches, virgins, and wives. It offers a valuable resource and constantly intriguing reading material.
  —Medium Aevum 2007
• Women in the Middle Ages: An Encyclopedia is recommended for academic and large public libraries.
  —Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin March 1, 2005

Table of Contents:

• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Abbreviations and Editorial Policy
• Alphabetical List of Entries
• Guide to Related Topics
• Medieval Women: An Encyclopedia
• Contributors
• Selected Bibliography of General Information Resources on Medieval Women
• Index

PDF Catalogs:

Sale Catalog 2008.pdf