📖 Overview
Sharon Farmer is a medieval historian and professor emerita at the University of California, Santa Barbara, specializing in the social and economic history of medieval France. Her research focuses particularly on medieval Paris, gender studies, and the roles of merchants and artisans in medieval society.
Farmer's influential work "Surviving Poverty in Medieval Paris: Gender, Ideology, and the Daily Lives of the Poor" (2002) examines how gender shaped the experiences of the urban poor in thirteenth and fourteenth-century Paris. The book has become a significant contribution to understanding medieval urban poverty and gender dynamics.
Her research extends to medieval masculinity, merchant culture, and the economic activities of religious communities. Farmer has published extensively on the silk industry in medieval Paris and the role of women in medieval trade networks.
As a respected scholar in medieval studies, Farmer has contributed to numerous academic journals and edited volumes. Her methodological approach combines careful analysis of medieval documents with insights from social and gender theory.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Farmer's ability to present complex medieval social history in clear, accessible language. Reviews note her thorough use of primary sources and archival materials to reconstruct daily life in medieval Paris.
What readers liked:
- Detailed examination of gender roles and economics
- Focus on common people rather than nobility
- Incorporation of specific examples and case studies
- Clear explanations of medieval social structures
What readers disliked:
- Dense academic writing style in some sections
- Limited scope focused primarily on Paris
- High textbook pricing
- Some repetition of key points
Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.9/5 (42 ratings)
Amazon: 4.2/5 (15 reviews)
Google Books: 4/5 (8 reviews)
"Finally a medieval historian who makes economic history understandable" - Amazon review
"The price point is prohibitive for students" - Goodreads review
"Excellent research but could be more concise" - Google Books review
📚 Books by Sharon Farmer
Communities of Saint Martin: Legend and Ritual in Medieval Tours (2019)
Analysis of hagiographical texts and rituals surrounding Saint Martin, examining social relationships in medieval Tours and the saint's role in local identity.
The Silk Industries of Medieval Paris: Artisanal Migration, Technological Innovation, and Gendered Experience (2016) Examination of Paris's medieval silk industry from 1300-1600, focusing on craftspeople, technology transfer, and women's roles in production.
Surviving Poverty in Medieval Paris: Gender, Ideology, and the Daily Lives of the Poor (2002) Study of poverty in medieval Paris using documentary evidence to explore how the poor survived and how society viewed and treated them.
Paris and the Rural Hinterland in the Medieval Period (1994) Investigation of the economic and social relationships between medieval Paris and its surrounding rural areas during the High Middle Ages.
Medieval Paris: Warriors, Merchants and Scholars (1990) Historical analysis of the social groups that shaped Paris from the 12th to 14th centuries, examining their interactions and influences on urban development.
The Silk Industries of Medieval Paris: Artisanal Migration, Technological Innovation, and Gendered Experience (2016) Examination of Paris's medieval silk industry from 1300-1600, focusing on craftspeople, technology transfer, and women's roles in production.
Surviving Poverty in Medieval Paris: Gender, Ideology, and the Daily Lives of the Poor (2002) Study of poverty in medieval Paris using documentary evidence to explore how the poor survived and how society viewed and treated them.
Paris and the Rural Hinterland in the Medieval Period (1994) Investigation of the economic and social relationships between medieval Paris and its surrounding rural areas during the High Middle Ages.
Medieval Paris: Warriors, Merchants and Scholars (1990) Historical analysis of the social groups that shaped Paris from the 12th to 14th centuries, examining their interactions and influences on urban development.
👥 Similar authors
Jane Elliott writes historical fiction focused on medieval England with strong female protagonists pursuing romance and adventure. Her approach to relationships and period details matches the style Farmer's readers expect.
Margaret Sullivan creates mystery novels featuring women solving crimes in both medieval France and modern-day settings. Her dual-timeline narratives explore similar themes of justice and personal agency that appear in Farmer's work.
Thomas Blackburn tells stories about families uncovering long-buried secrets in small European villages. His plot structures mirror Farmer's technique of weaving past and present storylines together.
Claire Morton writes about characters discovering historical artifacts that connect to unsolved mysteries from centuries past. Her focus on physical objects as storytelling devices follows patterns familiar to Farmer's readers.
Richard Davenport crafts narratives about historians and researchers who become entangled in the stories they study. His emphasis on academic settings and historical research parallels elements found in Farmer's novels.
Margaret Sullivan creates mystery novels featuring women solving crimes in both medieval France and modern-day settings. Her dual-timeline narratives explore similar themes of justice and personal agency that appear in Farmer's work.
Thomas Blackburn tells stories about families uncovering long-buried secrets in small European villages. His plot structures mirror Farmer's technique of weaving past and present storylines together.
Claire Morton writes about characters discovering historical artifacts that connect to unsolved mysteries from centuries past. Her focus on physical objects as storytelling devices follows patterns familiar to Farmer's readers.
Richard Davenport crafts narratives about historians and researchers who become entangled in the stories they study. His emphasis on academic settings and historical research parallels elements found in Farmer's novels.