Tada! After a foolishly long time and a couple of breaks I have finished this book. It didn't take me forever to read because it was boring (it was pretty interesting), it was just a little like wading through treacle though.It was an interesting period, covering before, during and after Cromwell's Civil War and how these events affected women and their lives and roles. It covered religions and professions and how much freedom (or not) it gave to women as well as the double standards that men judged women on (and that some women also judged each other on!).Amusingly (?), it was nothing new. In times of trouble and lack of men, women rose up and asserted themselves and in some (though not all) cases, were very successful and broke away from the stereotypes and expectations of the time without being mocked, called witch or harlot, or being told that classical learning was no place for a woman. Then when peace returned they went back to their kitchens and child-bearing. This is a pattern probably repeated again and again in history, the Second World War and the subsequent 1950's era comes to mind readily enough.Without bra-burning and ranting, this was an interesting read, and one can't help but get somewhat angry at the conclusions of the period in the epilogue, how despite some women fighting against the ways things were and perhaps being imprisoned etc. by the end of the period they went back to being the equivalent of property and perhaps even weaker than they started out at the beginning of the century.
The Bible dubs women as "the weaker vessel," in comparison to men, implying that, compared to men, women are physically and spiritually less robust. Antonia Fraser begs to differ. To lend proof to her objection, she examines life in 17th century England during the Civil War, a period in which women had no shortage of dangerous ways to die to choose from--constant childbirth, the ravages of illness, war and political strife, domestic abuse, and even popular opinion, to name a few.Fraser fills the book with fascinating stories of women from all walks of life: from the glittering ornaments of the court to the miserable old crones on the road, every single tale bears witness to the triumphs and tribulations of women. There are stories of women who defended their castles against relentless sieges, of the rise and fall of famous mistresses of the theater, of heiresses who, in spite of many kidnappings and familial conflicts, end up finding true love. The weaker vessel, they may be called but life as a woman--especially one in the 17th century--is no joke.
What do You think about The Weaker Vessel (2015)?
Faser is as wonderful as usual, I just couldn't dig up the enthusiasm for this examination of women & their role in 17th century England. Obviously it sounded like a good idea, or I wouldn't have chosen the book, but it was extremely minute in its examinations and divided into numerous parts and the author & I began to part company in our mutual joy over her findings about a third of the way in. I forced my way to three-quarters of the way and then gave up, something I seldom do. I suspect this was quite literally a book of dedicated scholarship that the publisher wondered would float in wider publication. I wonder if it did?
—Lynne-marie
This is the book that made me fall in love with Antonia Fraser's writing. She's an amazing historian. This book is filled with fascinating stories, tidbits and facts about women's lives in the 17th century. I still use this book as a reference, and when I do, I usually find myself reading the book all over again. I highly recommend this to anybody who is interested in women’s history. One thing that Fraser does and does very well, is that she brings together a great deal of researched material, and puts it in an orderly fashion, supporting her ideas and thoughts. I never think her books are boring. She’s very passionate about what she writes, yet she’s never preachy and condemning in her writing either, which is refreshing in a women’s history book. So many women studies and history books are written like an exposé, condemning men and how women were treated. I felt like Fraser wrote more out of fascination, simply stating the facts, and relating to many historical women’s challenges. Great book!
—Willow
Wow...definitely not a "quick" read! This is a non-fiction book that I suspect is used in Women's History classes. Very interesting book that covers the lives of women in the 17th century about subjects ranging from education to childbirth to women in business, etc. Sure makes me glad I was born in today's world. The author derives her information from diaries, manuscripts, etc from the era. She includes photographs of portraits which helps bring the reader to a more personal place with these interesting women. The book is nicely laced with footnotes and references (I personally find them distracting) to authenticate information and further educate the reader.
—Jane
