Normal Women

Nine Hundred Years of Making History

By: Philippa Gregory

Narrated by: Philippa Gregory, Clare Corbett, Tania Rodrigues, Nneka Okoye, James Goode, Joe Jameson

Length: 27 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

The #1 New York Times bestselling historical novelist delivers her magnum opus—a landmark work of feminist nonfiction that radically redefines our understanding of the extraordinary roles ordinary women played throughout British history and “should be included in every history lesson” (Glamour UK)

“As author and lead narrator, Gregory’s passion for this topic is evidence in her confident narration. . . . This audio should be savored. . . . This stellar work will be of interest to feminists, historians, Anglophiles, and those who like learning more about women throughout history.”—Booklist (starred review)

Did you know that there are more penises than women in the Bayeux Tapestry? That the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 was started and propelled by women who were protesting a tax on women? Or that celebrated naturalist Charles Darwin believed not just that women were naturally inferior to men, but that they’d evolve to become ever more inferior?

These are just a few of the startling findings you will learn from reading Philippa Gregory’s Normal Women. In this ambitious and groundbreaking book, she tells the story of England over 900 years, for the very first time placing women—some fifty per cent of the population—center stage.

Using research skills honed in her work as one of our foremost historical novelists, Gregory trawled through court records, newspapers, and journals to find highwaywomen and beggars, murderers and brides, housewives and pirates, female husbands and hermits. The “normal women” you will meet in these pages went to war, ploughed the fields, campaigned, wrote, and loved. They rode in jousts, flew Spitfires, issued their own currency, and built ships, corn mills and houses. They committed crimes or treason, worshipped many gods, cooked and nursed, invented things, and rioted. A lot.

A landmark work of scholarship and storytelling, Normal Women chronicles centuries of social and cultural change—from 1066 to modern times—powered by the determination, persistence, and effectiveness of women.

“Lively, timely and gloriously energetic. Each page bursts with life, and every chapter swirls with personalities left out of traditional narratives of Britain’s past. Philippa Gregory has produced something rare and wonderful: a genuinely new history of [Britain], with women at its beating heart.”—Dan Jones, New York Times bestselling author of The Plantagenets

“Stunning. . . . Full of surprises. . . . A brilliant, essential read.”—The Independent (UK)

©20322 Philippa Gregory (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Dull listing of things women did/owned

Perhaps if there was a bit more structure, this could be interesting. As it is. this is just a long, rambling list of anecdotal tidbits about women strung together. Maybe reading it would be better than listening to it, I couldn't finish it and I'm a history buff.

Remarkably interesting and eye opening

This book is so amazingly researched. It has the most remarkable set of stories and incidents. Beautifully organized. A great audio experience.

A Perfect Book!

Perfect narration, amazing compilation of our little known history. I loved this book from start to finish and will likely keep in a biannual rotation! Thank you Ms. Gregory!

I stopped listening…..

when it was suggested that Donald Trump admitted to assaulting women. When did he admit that? You mean the locker room talk. 😏

Thought provoking

This provides a thoughtful review of history and the ways that women that been beaten into male view of them.

Well researched

The book is well researched and presents thought provoking anecdotes. It truly has a focus on “ordinary” (as opposed to “elite” women). My biggest grievance is that the author uses these anecdotes to make huge - and often contradictory - conclusions. She also applies a modern/progressive perspective to events and people that is wholly unnecessary and diminishes her work.

Growing Up Female

Girls and women of all ages will become enlightened about the influences of society and culture that shape their own expectations of their lives after reading this book. The research is extensive, including statistics that clearly show how and why women accept and continue to support injustice and inequality in many areas including crimes of violence against women, social stigma regarding sexuality, extreme poverty and inequality in pay, unfair politics, lack of female leadership, poor mental and physical health care and diagnoses, limited advancement in careers, lack of value for motherhood, imprisonment, literacy, education, community, mental health and more. Gregory has included multiple viewpoints of generation after generation that have served to manage women as second class citizens and continues to this day.

An amazing collection of thousands of stories that should be in history textbooks and aren’t

Through thousands of examples from history, the reader gains a real sense of why women are treated as second class citizens, why change has been slow, why the mainstream historical narratives of women are wrong and damaging. It is more academic than a “story” and that is the point in the best of ways. Not an easy read and worth it!

Also, the afterward is extremely satisfying. A beautiful thing all on its own.

So much I never read before

I’ve read a lot of history, especially the Plantagenet period, but this book covered a lot of “her”-story I’d never read before. A lot of the antics of mediocre male snowflakes trying retain their undeserved supremacy made me quite angry.

Best book I’ve ever read.

This book was inspiring, motivating, enlightening, and entertaining all at once. I read a lot of nonfiction history books, but the detail, little known facts, and overarching theme of sisterhood in this work set it apart from anything I have read before. I’ve recommended it to my sister who immediately bought it and two days later told me how great it was as well. If you like learning new things about human history, this is an incredible read you shouldn’t pass up.