Legenda

byJanina Ramirez

The Real Women Behind the Myths That Shaped Europe

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From the bestselling author of FEMINA, a brilliant reappraisal of the medieval women whose lives have been exploited for political, nation-building ends.

In LEGENDA, bestselling historian Professor Janina Ramirez peels back the layers of time to reveal how the lives of women have been co-opted by those with nationalist agendas. Famous medieval women like Joan of Arc, Lady Godiva and Isabella of Castile have been misrepresented, their stories twisted and weaponised. Meanwhile, ground-breaking 18th- and 19th-century women who blazed a trail through revolutionary Europe have been forgotten, their legacies dismissed or ignored.

Searching for the real women behind the legends, Ramirez interrogates what defines a nation and who gets to build it, shining a light on how history is so often hijacked to serve the ideological and political interests of the present.


Praise for LEGENDA:
'Fearless, stunning and shockingly relevant' Alice Roberts, author of Domination

'A history like no other. Fabulous, invigorating and beguiling' Kate Mosse, author of Labyrinth

'Sensational! Janina Ramirez is writing women back into history one by one' Lauren Laverne

'A brilliant concept, conveyed with that dynamo mix: academic authority and storytelling pizzazz!' Alice Loxton, author of Eighteen

Janina Ramirez fearlessly deconstructs the dangerous historical myths and legends that have been shamelessly created to stoke division and hatred, finding complexity, truth and inspiration in this stunning - and shockingly relevant - new analysis of medieval history

Alice Roberts, author of ANCESTORS

About Janina Ramirez

Dr Janina Ramirez is a presenter, lecturer and researcher, specialising in interpreting symbols and examining art works within their historical context. She is Course Director for the Undergraduate Certificate and Diploma in History of Art at the Department for Continuing Education, Oxford University. She has published widely on medieval art and literature, and has taught and researched across a broad chronological sweep, covering everything from the sculptures of antiquity to post-modern architecture. She has also written and presented a number of documentaries for BBC4 and Radio Four, and is a regular guest presenter of Front Row. She is a passionate and enthused academic driven by a desire to share ideas.
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Details
  • Imprint: WH Allen
  • ISBN: 9780753560433
  • Length: 480 pages
  • Price: £12.99
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