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

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

Very well researched

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to Normal Women. It was enlightening, frightening, inspiring and gave me a whole new appreciation of all the amazing women that came before us and made it possible for me to be an independent, financially successful woman in a man’s world. Everyone should read this, especially all the young women of today.

This should be required reading for all students!!!

This lost history of the lives of ordinary women, and the historical review of the fluidity and arbitrary nature of gender roles, is literally the thing that can save Western civilization at this point.

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!

Thought provoking

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

Well worth reading for the insights into women’s lives over the centuries.

I liked this book because I learned a lot about how women’s lives have evolved over time and what factors influenced those changes, as well as how much we mythologize about the past. I was surprised by how much factual information historians (who took the trouble to dig) have been able to find about women’s lives from so long ago, since “normal” women’s lives were generally not considered important or interesting from a historical perspective. Reliance on individual women’s stories kept the narrative interesting. Lots of eye-opening stories and statistics, some of which are truly disturbing. Some aspects of women’s lives and interactions in society have not changed that much

The book is structured to cover the same topics for each historical era, which enables the reader to understand changes over time. The downside of this is that parts of the book seem very repetitive, which is my main criticism. Some of the same points are made over and over and some thoughtful editing could have tightened it up, in my opinion. Righteous indignation over some of the injustices to women is understandable, but sometimes it became a bit of a diatribe.
Nonetheless, a well researched and very interesting book and I’m glad I read it.

Amazing Comprehensive History

It was often tough to get through this history. It was well written, researched, and narrated. The subject matter is definitely not for the faint of heart, and I often found myself wanting to take a break from it's depressing subject. When there was an uplifting moment, it was a brief jewel of amazement. But most of all, this history of women has provided me with some profound insights into my own nature and that of my family and society's treatment and beliefs about women. Bravo and thank you Philippa!

Read This Book

If you are a woman; or someone who loves, honors and appreciates women; or someone who wants to broaden their horizons; or someone who wants to understand the plurality of gender; please read this.

If nothing else, read the last chapter!

I don’t know if I could have read this in book form and I am so grateful for Phillipa Gregory for recording this amazing herstory. My middle fingers are worn out by flipping off the foolish words that have condemned women for centuries and I have been cussing like a sailor in response to why we are where we are.

Women are strong and ‘men’ are scared because all humans are amazing and unique; they just don’t get it.

Again, thank you Philippa, you are amazing and my role model. I want to be like you and Jemima Perry-Jones when I grow up (I’m 65).

Very interesting - up until the last quarter

This author used to be an automatic buy for me for many years. So when I saw the title pop-up I immediately went to take a look at it. The premise was intriguing and the sample was good. So I purchased the book. I really enjoyed about three quarters of the book. Well written. All kinds of great historical detail that I had never encountered before. But in the last quarter of the book we veered off into some disturbing contemporary political correctness. I would have greatly appreciated understanding prior to purchase what the focus of the last portion of the book would be.

Failing that, I just suffered through the end wincing through many of the concepts espoused. This book managed to be interesting and very disappointing at the same time.