The Oldest Vocation

By Clarissa W. Atkinson,

Book cover of The Oldest Vocation: Christian Motherhood in the Medieval West

Book description

According to an old story, a woman concealed her sex and ruled as pope for a few years in the ninth century. Pope Joan was not betrayed by a lover or discovered by an enemy; her downfall came when she went into labor during a papal procession through the streets…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Oldest Vocation as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Another companion on my journey to becoming a medievalist, The Oldest Vocation is one of the earliest works of medieval scholarship to take the history of motherhood seriously. Atkinson showed us how mothering was a calling in the medieval world, whether it was a physical experience or a spiritual one. I think this was the first book I ever bought the moment it was available!

From Miriam's list on medieval women’s history.

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