Secret Lives of Single Medieval Women

Rosalie Gilbert is passionate about living history, experimental archaeology, and women in the Middle Ages. She is a member of the Queensland Living History Federation.She has been a guest speaker on medieval feminine hygiene and The Very Secret Sex Lives Of Medieval Women at the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, the Queensland Museum's After Dark Program for the British Museum's Medieval Power: Symbols and Splendor exhibition, the University of The Third Age's Winterschool Program, the University Pavilion at the Abbey Medieval Festival, and various women's social groups.She works in medical imaging in a busy city hospital in Australia. Her hobbies include historical sewing, curating her collection of medieval artifacts, lying about being at work so she can stay home with her rescue kitty, and eating nachos—not especially in that order.

“I can thoroughly recommend it for both students and those with a less academic enthusiasm for medieval history, who will be whisked back to those ‘days of olde’ from the comfort of their armchair. Most enjoyable and educational!”—Toni Mount, MA, BA (Hons), Dip Creative Writing and Literature, Dip European Humanities, Cert Ed, internationally bestselling author“In this book, The Secret Lives of Single Medieval Women, Rosalie once again brings to us remarkable insights into the little-known and often challenging world of single women in the Middle Ages. The depth of her research is noteworthy and her ability to bring it all together with clarity and the additional sprinkling of humorous insights makes this book highly engaging, educational, and entertaining.”—Edith Cuffe, OAM, Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology“Scholarly but not stuffy. If you are looking for an informative but fun book on Mediaeval women, you will find it between these pages. This well-written book guides one with a gentle hand through all the classes of unmarried women throughout the Mediaeval era. A must-read for all those modern women who wish to understand the role of our unmarried ancestors in the Middle Ages. Essential reading for the novice reenactor and student of early history alike. And good fun to read.”—Susanna Newstead, authoress of historical murder/mystery fiction series the Savernake Novels“This book sheds light on the reality of single medieval women, not just the two-dimensional depictions in movies. Ms. Gilbert not only has researched her subject thoroughly, but her engaging style brings these women to life with examples of actual medieval women.”—Susan Thatcher, The Grand Duchy of Medieval Merriment

• Table of ContentsForeword by Toni MountIntroductionChapter 1. Who Were the Single Ladies?Chapter 2. There’s No Place Like HomeChapter 3. Dressing for SuccessChapter 4. Etiquette for the Solo WomanChapter 5. Learning, Education, and Skill-SharingChapter 6. Unpaid Labour, Jobs, and Business OpportunitiesChapter 7. Leisurely PursuitsChapter 8. Animal CompanionsChapter 9. In Sickness and in HealthChapter 10. Death, Funerals, and BeyondSource NotesAcknowledgementsAbout the Author