Judith M. Bennett is Professor Emerita of History and John R. Hubbard Chair in British History Emerita at University of Southern California. She has published extensively on the history of women, particularly women in the middle ages. Her books include Women in the Medieval English Countryside (Oxford, 1987) and Sisters and Workers in the Middle Ages (co-editor, 1989).
"This is a valuable work, not only because of its conclusions, but
because of its tackling of the thorny problem of 'historicizing
patriarchy.' Highly recommended."--CHOICE
"This lean, powerfully argued book merits attention both for its
central theme and for its many insights into the development of
brewing and the lives of those involved in the trade."--American
Historical Review
"This important, scholarly book makes a major contribution to the
study of medieval women and to the period's social and economic
history."--Albion
"Richly documented and lucidly written...Should be required reading
for labour and women's historians, as well as medievalists. Its
clarity and anecdotal detail--to say nothing of the natural appeal
of its subject matter--will also make it suitable for undergraduate
instruction as well."--Labour/Le Travail
"Bennett's book can be read on two levels. Certainly it documents
the course of yet another dance in which women never lead, to
borrow her metaphor, but it is also an excellent...account of the
metamorphosis of a medieval craft into an early modern industry
over the course of more than three centuries."--The Medieval
Review
"Bennett has written a wonderful book. Combining large questions
and lively prose with an impressive archival base and an eclectic
methodology, she takes on diverse tasks. The simplest is a
variation on a classic social history--an examination of the
experiences of one group (women) in one industry (brewing) in
particular localities (Oxford and others)...Her reach also extends
to one of the most imponderable tasks of all, to explain and
account historically for
the persistence of patriarchy...[This] is a brilliant and
provocative book...Bennett has written a book the conceptual
pertinence of which extends to all historians interested in gender
and in
power."--The Journal of Interdisciplinary History
"Bennett...fills an important gap in the history of women and the
brewing industry by explaining how and why women lost primacy in
brewing beer."--History: Reviews of New Books
"There are issues in Bennett's book to be weighed by teachers of
history: she is good at posing problems and asking questions. Her
own engagement with the position of women today, and with her women
students who ask questions about women's work, makes the book
immediately of interest...Her clear articulation of her position as
a feminist historian combined with her careful research make her
arguments compelling. There is a message here for both feminist
and
medieval historians."--Journal of Social History, Carnegie-Mellon
University
"Bennett's study is bold in its sweep, thoughtful in its analysis,
and provocative in its argument. Its conclusions offer an important
challenge to prevailing views of women's work, one that will
reshape discussion of the subject for years to come."--Speculum: A
Journal of Medieval Studies
"[H]ere is a nearly perfect example of a monograph, with a
manageable subject, clear exposition of goals and thesis, thorough
and careful use of sources, and argument placed in its historical
and historiographic contexts. Plus, it is interesting and enjoyable
to read."--Journal of Women's History
"...Bennett's book explores a fascinating topic with considerable
style and skill. Her prose is clear and her arguments are logically
constructed and neatly set out...Bennett's successful attempt to
explore seriously and in detail the workings of patriarchy make
this an important book for all scholars of past
societies."--Journal of Modern History
"You don't have to be a beer drinker to appreciate the scope and
scale of Dr. Bennett's book... extensive and illuminating...[T]he
picture she has constructed of Brewsters is one that serves as an
analogy to other industries initially dominated by women; these
women, too, were marginalized over time until they abandoned the
work to the men who were replacing them."--Sixteenth Century
Journal
Ask a Question About this Product More... |