Women's Worlds in Seventeenth Century England: A Sourcebook

by Gowing; Laura

• ISBN13: 9780415156387
• ISBN10: 0415156386
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1999-12-16
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Women's Worlds in Englandpresents a unique collection of source materials on women's lives in sixteenth and seventeenth century England. The book introduces a wonderfully diverse group of women and a series of voices that have rarely been heard in history, from a poor Devon servant-girl to Queen Anne herself. Drawing on unpublished, archival materials, the book explores women's: * experiences of work, sex, marriage and motherhood * beliefs and spirituality * political activities * relationships * mental worlds In a time when few women could write, this book reveals the multitude of ways in which their voices have left traces in the written record, and deepens our understanding of women's lives in the past.

Author Biography

Patricia Crawford is Professor of History at the University of Western Australia Laura Gowing is Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Hertfordshire

Table of Contents

List of documents	vii
List of illustrations	xv
Acknowledgements	xvi
Permissions	xvii
Abbreviations	xviii
Introduction	1	(12)
Bodies	13	(28)
Religion, Beliefs, Spirituality	41	(30)
Work	71	(34)
Poverty and Property	105	(32)
Sexual Experiences	137	(26)
Marriage	163	(24)
Maternity	187	(28)
Relationships	215	(28)
Politics and Protests	243	(22)
Mental Worlds	265	(24)
Notes	289	(6)
Further reading	295	(8)
Glossary	303	(2)
Index	305