Listen Ad-free

Chaucer's Wife of Bath: Medieval Feminist

Gone Medieval

Jul 8 2025 • 56 mins

This episode contains explicit language and themes


We're revelling in the Canterbury Tales this week; who else to kick things off with a bang than the scandalous Wife of Bath?

Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Hetta Howes to celebrate Chaucer's scandalous and witty Wife of Bath, as they explore her five marriages, defiance of medieval norms, and her unapologetically bold voice. Together they unravel the rich details of her prologue and tale, filled with humour, controversy, and groundbreaking challenges to gender roles. Romp through one of literature's most unforgettable tales and characters.


More:

Medieval Writers, Extraordinary Women

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2axC5tQ8weR8tfb9ZwQJbK

Geoffrey Chaucer, Father of English Literature

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3TMGrNTfPS5wwOqspKNfK3


Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. It was edited by Amy Haddow, the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.


Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on


You Might Like

History Daily
History Daily
Airship | Noiser | Wondery
A Twist of History
A Twist of History
Ballen Studios
The Ancients
The Ancients
History Hit
Dark History
Dark History
Audioboom Studios
Lore
Lore
Aaron Mahnke
History That Doesn't Suck
History That Doesn't Suck
Prof. Greg Jackson
Gone Medieval
Gone Medieval
History Hit
Ridiculous History
Ridiculous History
iHeartPodcasts
Tides of History
Tides of History
Wondery / Patrick Wyman
Noble Blood
Noble Blood
iHeartPodcasts and Grim & Mild
Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities
Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities
iHeartPodcasts and Grim & Mild