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The Wisdom of the Beguines: The Forgotten Story of a Medieval Women’s Movement Hardcover – November 11, 2014

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Laura Swan (Author)
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4.3 out of 5 stars 15 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 208 pages
  • Publisher: BlueBridge; First Edition edition (November 11, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1933346973
  • ISBN-13: 978-1933346977
  • Product Dimensions: 1 x 5.8 x 8.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
A Medieval Women's Movement Unearthed
By Story Circle Book Reviews on November 16, 2014
Format: Hardcover
Much if not most of women's experience has languished in the dark shadows of history. Around 1980 scholars became interested in a medieval movement of independent women known as beguines and began unearthing historical records about their way of life. The Wisdom of the Beguines: The Forgotten Story of a Medieval Women's Movement by Laura Swan illuminates the development and growth of the beguines from its formation around 1200 until the death of the last beguine in 2013. Swan presents a well-documented, amply footnoted academic study which is quite readable. On occasion she creates an imaginary stroll into a beguinage to draw the reader into her story.

Swan tells us that beguines were from every social and economic class and their ages ranged from about fourteen up to their eighties or beyond. She describes them:

Self-supporting and single or widowed, these women stood out for their spiritual and personal independence, preaching in public and debating with select theologians and biblical scholars... For the most part, beguines were free to make their own life choices and to move about their town or city as they wished (as long as they had a companion with them), and women of every family status would become beguines: they were unmarried or widowed, or they would leave their husbands, or raise children alongside. And they could cease being beguines and get married.
While the majority of monasteries for women were located in the countryside, most beguinages were established in urban areas. The beguines were excellent businesswomen and owned property. Some made their living in the world of finance, while others were registered merchants or worked in the emerging textile industry.Read more ›
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Who Were the Beguines?
By Lois Sibley on January 27, 2015
Format: Hardcover
It was a mystery to me, so I was glad to receive a review copy from BlueBridge (www.bluebridgebooks.com) and have enjoyed reading it. The Wisdom of the Beguines, the Forgotten Story of a Medieval Women's Movement is by Laura Swan, who is adjunct professor of religious studies, Washington State, and a former prioress of a community of Benedictine women in the Pacific Northwest. I am impressed by the research and study she must have done to tell us about the Beguines, and am grateful to her for all of this history of an important women's group I had not heard of previously. Yes, I have heard of some of the early women mystics, such as Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, but those are about all I knew of, until now.

The Beguines began to form in groups in Europe more than 800 years ago! That's in the early 1200s. They were not nuns, but laywomen. They did not take vows, nor live in monasteries. There was no founder nor rule to live by. Some lived alone, some lived in groups, perhaps sharing a house. Swan writes: "They did share their common way of life: chastity and simplicity, their unusual business acumen, and their commitment to God and to the marginalized."

Beguines existed into the twenty-first century and some news media reported the death of "the last Beguine, Marcella Pattyn in 2013" She was in her 90s and had lived in Belgium. They thought she was the last but Swan says there are reports that young women are "making spiritual promises and seeking a beguines lifestyle today, both in Europe and in North America.Read more ›
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Resourceful
By Stephen T. Hopkins VINE VOICE on April 11, 2015
Format: Hardcover
I think the first time I heard the word “beguine,” it was in hearing Cole Porter’s song, “Begin the Beguine.” His reference was to a popular dance in the 1930s, which became even more popular after his terrific song. In 2013, I read a newspaper article about the death of last beguine. So, when I ran across Laura Swan’s book titled, The Wisdom of the Beguines: The Forgotten Story of a Medieval Women’s Movement, I picked it up and started to hum the Porter tune. I stopped humming after a page or two and was delighted to read about these resourceful women who gathered in community from medieval times into the 21st century. Spoiler alert: these women were not dancers and they were not nuns. They were laywomen who banded together for their mutual support and for service to their communities. There hasn’t been enough accurate examination about the lives of women in society throughout history, since so much of contemporaneous history has been written by men. Any reader interested in learning something new about interesting women should consider reading this fascinating book.

Rating: Four-star (I like it)
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Original feminists?
By Karen K on June 11, 2015
Format: Hardcover
It is only in recent history that women are recognized for the individuals they are. Yes there were exceptions such as Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton, Amelia Earhart to name a few. However beginning in the 1000's these women in gray robes defied the conventions of the day by owning property, educating women and caring for the needy.Working as individuals and in community through the centuries they have showed their leadership abilities and planted seeds of hope for many. Out of curiosity I read this book and was pleasantly surprised by what I learned.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Four Stars

Interesting historical perspective of an early women's movement.

Published 1 month ago by Jan F.
A GOOD READ

It was well written and documented. We are now reading it in community. For many it was the first time they heard of the Beguines. Read more

Published 2 months ago by julianne
This book covers the why and how like no other

I've been fascinated with the Beguines and the history around them since I traveled to Bruges Belgium. This book covers the why and how like no other. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Amanda S. Stevens
Three Stars

Interesting but read like history, dates and events. Loved the cover though!
,

Published 2 months ago by Madonna J Braun
This is the best book about the Beguines I have read

A masterful study of Beguine history! This is the best book about the Beguines I have read.

Published 2 months ago by Adele B. Hanson
Poetry in fiction

I just love this author and book. One to read slowly and savor the words

Published 4 months ago by Jenness S. Akeson
Worth reading

ExcellEnt history however book is very repetitive of facts. loved learning all this greatness & strength about the women

Published 6 months ago by Mammamia05
Three Stars

Fascinating piece of history that I never heard anything about.

Published 7 months ago by Susan Clary
a bit repetitive in places but generally good and interesting to read...

a bit repetitive in places but generally good and interesting to read about these little known women of history.

Published 9 months ago by Kathleen M Donohue
... very detailed history of the Beguines but it reads like a...

A very detailed history of the Beguines but it reads like a Masters/Doctoral thesis so be prepared for some dry reading. Read more

Published 9 months ago by Blake Buchanan-Munro

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