'With 27 well-chosen illustrations, effective use of sub-headings to signpost the key issues in the book and a detailed grasp of primary and secondary material, this book deserves a wide audience among teachers and students. That it is so well written and structured is a bonus.' – Richard Brown, The Historical Association'The geographical breadth of the study enables the author to draw comparisons and contrasts in ways absent from most studies and in doing so, she provides a valuable guide to the conditions, circumstances and understandings of how women lived throughout Europe.' - Richard Brown, The Historical Association "Deborah Simonton has written a comprehensive work that brings together a large amount of information on a broad spectrum of women's activities over three centuries in a way that successfully avoids both simplifications and exclusive expert-oriented language...the book will be appreciated by teachers and students as well as those interested in learning more about women's history." - Jitka Malečková in European History Quarterly"The textbook that instructors of European women's history courses have been waiting for... Superb." - Mary Lynn Stewart, The European Legacy: Toward New Paradigms