A fascinating book about four women - each a heroine in her own way - it tells us so much about their world, and about our own… What jumps off the page is the liveliness of the women, their passion, their courage and their own way of being a woman.

Philippa Gregory, author of The Other Boleyn Girl and Normal Women

Beautifully written and brilliantly observed, Hetta Howes unlocks the secrets of women's lives, so often silent and inconspicuous in our histories, and shows us the medieval world as we've never seen it before. Full of surprises and packed with thrilling details, this is an important, eye-opening book.

Alice Loxton, author of Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives and Uproar!

A celebration of female ambition and endeavour... enormous fun.

The Sunday Times

Brilliantly revealing.

Observer

Lively and enjoyable… The result is illuminating… evokes the spirit of the period so well.

History Today

Howes's book is highly readable and informative.

The Spectator