English Summary/英文概要： For centuries, the lives of medieval women have been overshadowed by queens, saints and warriors, their stories of power and defiance celebrated while the voices of ordinary women have faded into obscurity. Women of the Middle Ages challenges this narrative, shedding light on the everyday experiences of those who ploughed fields, healed the sick, and sought refuge in religious life. From the Beguines, who defied convention to serve their communities, to the midwives, nuns, and traders who shaped medieval society, this book reveals the resilience and determination of women who lived beyond the pages of history. Meticulously researched and richly told, Women of the Middle Ages uncovers the realities of life for the women who made the medieval world turn.

Chinese Summary/中文概要： 幾個世紀以來，中世紀女性的生活一直被女王、聖人和戰士的光環所掩蓋，她們的權力與反抗故事被頌揚，而普通女性的聲音卻被遺忘。本書《中世紀女性》挑戰了這種敘事，揭示了那些耕耘田地、救死扶傷、在宗教生活中尋求庇護的女性的日常生活。從不拘泥於傳統、服務社區的貝居安會修女，到塑造中世紀社會的助產士、修女和商人，本書展現了那些超越歷史記載的女性的堅韌與決心。本書研究嚴謹，敘述生動，揭示了那些推動中世紀世界運轉的女性的真實生活。(Zoe)

Awards/获奖情况： Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book is an incredible look into the way women were viewed and treated in the Middle Ages. Truthfully this book made me have visceral reactions to the cruelty and stigmas, but it’s very important to know how far we’ve come as a society. The storytelling is well-done and in a way that’s easily digestible even for novice history readers. I found myself interested the whole time, and inspired to look deeper into certain topics. I think everyone should read this!!-NetGalley, Kaitlyn López-Collier

I found Luke Daly’s “Women of the Middle Ages” a very pleasurable read! It serves as a sort of “catch-all” for the subject - a broad survey of Medieval women from the early to late Middle Ages. It is a short volume, so I would absolutely recommend it if you are booking for a quick yet informative non-fiction read! It has this medieval feminist’s seal of approval.-NetGalley, Sophia Bucior

I really enjoyed this! Often in books about the medieval period, the focus is on the men. Even when a title is focused on women, it is often the royal and noble class. The common, everyday woman in the medieval period is a topic that is very under explored but this book does a great job providing a look at the various classes of medieval women and their lives-NetGalley, Kayleigh Kress

盧克·戴利是東英吉利大學的博士生，他正在進行一項開創性的研究，探索坎特伯雷大教堂的財務記錄，旨在揭示1200年至1300年間英格蘭的基督教修道制度。此外，盧克也著有《中世紀聖徒及其罪孽：透過聖徒及其故事重現中世紀新史》（2024年由Pen and Sword出版社出版）和《中世紀拉丁語：初學者自學指南》（2021年出版）。2025年，他因在該領域的研究成果入選BBC HistoryExtra「30位30歲以下傑出青年」榜單。除了學術研究之外，盧克還是一位著作豐富的作家。 他的第一本書《中世紀拉丁語：初學者自學指南》於2021年11月透過亞馬遜Kindle Direct Publishing平台自費出版。這本內容全面的指南取得了巨大成功，暢銷全球。然而，盧克對歷史的熱情遠不止於文字。他主持著一檔頗受歡迎的播客節目「戴利中世紀播客」，在YouTube和Spotify等平台上擁有眾多忠實聽眾。透過這個播客節目，盧克不僅分享引人入勝的歷史故事，還採訪專業人士、作家和歷史學家同行，並豐富聽眾對歷史的理解。

About Luke Daly

Luke Daly is a PhD student at the University of East Anglia where he is embarking on groundbreaking research into the financial records of Canterbury Cathedral, aiming to shed light on Christian monasticism within England from 1200 to 1300. Alongside this, Luke is the author of ’Medieval Saints and their Sins: A New History of the Middle Ages Through Saints and Their Stories’ (2024) with Pen and Sword Publishing and ’Medieval Latin: A Beginner’s Self-Taught Guide’ (2021). In 2025, he was listed in BBC HistoryExtra’s ’30 Under 30’ for his work in the field.In addition to his academic pursuits, Luke is a prolific author.

He self-published his first book, Medieval Latin: A Beginner’s Self-Taught Guide, in November 2021 through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. This comprehensive guide has seen great success, with copies sold internationally. Yet, Luke’s passion for history extends beyond the written word. He hosts a popular podcast, "The Daly Medieval Podcast," which has gained a devoted following on platforms such as YouTube and Spotify. Through the podcast, Luke not only shares captivating historical narratives but also conducts interviews with professionals, authors, and fellow historians, enriching the listeners’ understanding of the past.