Jane Tibbetts Schulenburg

This weighty book is the product of 25 years of research into early medieval female sanctity by Schulenburg. She analysed more than 2000 vitae (biographies of saints, usually written in Latin) in terms of family connection, power, patronage, virginity and motherhood in order to explore women's status and experience in the church in early medieval France, Belgium, Britain and Ireland. Schulenberg argues that the period from roughly 650-750 was favourable for powerful religious women, but that the Carolingian reforms solidified a (male) hierarchical religious authority, which created less favourable environments for women. Virginity was a prized attribute throughout the period, and bonds of family and friendship (particularly brother-sister friendships) were key means of support and assistance during periods of monastic expansion and missionary activities. Schulenberg's writing is always engaging, though I felt she could have edited down some of her examples in order to create more space for analysis, and parts of the book are a little repetitive. Still an impressive achievement.… (mer)