Women's History Month - Medieval Women and Literature

Medieval art in the bacground of a woman surrounded by men and holding a child.

 

During Women's History Month, one might read the works by famous female authors such as Jane Austen, Maya Angelou, Sylvia Plath, and Toni Morrison. There are a countless number of female authors to enjoy, but we would be missing out if we did not take a moment to remark on the achievements of female authors from the Middle Ages. These women shaped the societies and cultures in which they lived but are often overlooked in favor of their male contemporaries.

As I pursue my Master’s degree in Medieval Studies at Fordham University, I was delighted to give a presentation about medieval women and their literary culture at Crestwood Library. I talked about women from a wide range of times and across the Eurasian continent. You can learn more about some of the female medieval authors discussed here!

A description of female writers in the middle ages.
A description of female writers in the middle ages.

The works by many of these women are accessible with your Yonkers Public Library card:

 

Fictional Stories About These Women:

This blog was written by Emily Varker, a Part-Time Junior Clerk at the Crestwood Library. She is currently pursuing an MA in Medieval Studies at Fordham University. She loves reading across a variety of genres, but she especially loves historical fiction and retellings of classic stories.

This blog was edited by Alison Robles, a Part-Time Junior Clerk at the Crestwood Library. She is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction and fantasy. A Yonkers native, she recently received an MS in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo.

 

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