‘This book represents a towering achievement of modern scholarship, fusing gender, cultural, social and religious history in a beautifully written book.’Susan Mumm, Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario'Mangion provides fresh angles on how the simple-vowed religious women contributed impressively to English Catholic life.'Margaret MacCurtain, University College, Dublin'This is an exceptionally fine book, which draws not only on an extensive body of secondary sources, but also on a great range of primary source material. It constitutes essential reading for all who are interested in the history of women religious, the history of women, the history of education and the history of religion.'Tom O’Donoghue, The University of Western Australia