Welcome to Medieval Musings!
Find out more about THE space to indulge in all things European medieval history.
Are you interested in medieval history but…
frustrated by an overwhelming focus on kings and battles?
bored by matter-of-fact presentations of the past?
missing the human connection element to studying our ancestors?
If so, then this is the place for you!
Let me share why I’d love to welcome you into the Medieval Musings community…
What’s unique about Medieval Musings compared with other history pages?
I’m currently studying for a PhD in Archaeology at Oxford, researching the role of women in the social and political developments of 6th- and 7th-century England and France. With a worldwide readership of over 4,400 PLUS featuring regularly in Substack’s top 100 fastest-growing history publications, I share medieval history as you rarely hear it. I combine written and archaeological evidence to share the experiences of overshadowed individuals, ask challenging questions of dominant interpretations, and recommend books and writers doing a wonderful job of unearthing the past.
Why Subscribe?
As a free subscriber, you’ll access…
Occasional essays including biographies, historical explorations, book reviews, or discussion posts.
Monthly Live Q&As with guest experts in early medieval history
If you upgrade to a paid membership, you’ll unlock:
Regular essays going deeper into the key questions of the medieval world
The option to ask advance questions for our monthly Live Q&As, ensuring that your question gets addressed
Opportunities to engage on a deeper level with exclusive chat threads building on essay topics
Engagement with to influence future essays with surveys and chats
Full archive of 100+ posts, include my serialised historical fiction novels set in early medieval England and exploring underrepresented figures
Serialised historical fiction novel & ebook download
What do readers say about Medieval Musings?
‘Your piece does a great job of shedding light on a misunderstood period of history. I really enjoyed your article - it’s insightful, well-argued, and brings fresh attention to the richness of the so-called 'Dark Ages.' - Mario
‘Fascinating, peel back the curtains of time and see what is there 😍🤗’ - Jane C. Smith
‘Wonderful essay, Holly. You’re doing such important work by rethinking the way these stories are told. I’m really looking forward to the next instalments in your series.’ - Jonathan Crain
This is wonderful ❤️
LOVE this. Best of luck with your studies! I studied art history in college, but didn't get a Ph.D. as my young daughter had health issues. Both of my girls are grown up now, and I have returned to my roots. I'm publishing my romantasy novel, a retelling of the legend of Hengest and Horsa, this April. I chose to tell it first person POV and have the tale told by Hengest's daughter, Rowena, who really has a bad reputation in the history books. It's been a delight giving her a voice, being inspired by old texts, and imagining what a world would be like if the tales of pagan magic were real.