@HettaHowes

Writer. Broadcaster. Senior Lecturer @CityUniLondon @ahrcpress/@BBCRadio3 New Generation Thinker 2017. FRHistS Agent: @mfredturner. Views my own, etc.

 London
hettahowes.co.uk/
Joined July 2013
  • Tweets4.3K
  • Following1.8K
  • Followers1.8K
257Media
'A celebration of female ambition and endeavour' The Sunday Times Don't miss the paperback of the brilliant Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife by @HettaHowes - out now..
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🖋️ Poet Mystic Widow Wife - @HettaHowes Few women had the luxury of writing down their thoughts and feelings during medieval times but four iconic women writers did. This is an immersive journey into the everyday lives of medieval women. Read more - bloomsbury.com/uk/poet-mysti…
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'A celebration of female ambition and endeavour' The Sunday Times Don't miss the paperback of the brilliant Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife by @HettaHowes - out February 12th.
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'Fascinating' Philippa Gregory Discover the extraordinary lives of medieval women through their own words. The stunning Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife by @HettaHowes is out 12th February.
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'A celebration of female ambition and endeavour' The Sunday Times Don't miss the paperback of the brilliant Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife by @HettaHowes - out February 12th.
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Dr Hetta Howes retweeted
Dr Daisy Dunn@DaisyfDunn6 Nov 2025
I'm doing an in-conversation event about women in the ancient and medieval worlds with Hetta Howes on 19th November. It's a hybrid event, with tickets for seats @ConwayHall in London, and tickets to watch online, too. Please do book if of interest! conwayhall.ticketsolve.com/t…

The Extraordinary Lives of Ancient & Medieval Women - Conway Hall

What was life really like for women in the ancient and medieval periods? How did they think about sex, death and God? Could they live independent…

conwayhall.ticketsolve.com
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Get 25% off some of our brilliant upcoming books when you pre-order from @Waterstones until 17th October - just use the code OCTOBER25! Starting with the stunning paperback of POET, MYSTIC, WIDOW, WIFE from @HettaHowes, a fascinating look at medieval women in their own words.
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Dr Hetta Howes retweeted
serena@gothicfilms17 Jul 2025
poet, mystic, widow, wife and romantic outlaws!!!! THIS IS SO HUGE FOR ME
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Dr Hetta Howes retweeted
Church Times@ChurchTimes6 Jul 2025
Medieval women’s ideas about heaven were inspired by the visions and sufferings they experienced, says Hetta Howes churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2…

Heavenly melody of Margery Kempe

Medieval women’s ideas about heaven were inspired by the visions and sufferings they experienced, says Hetta Howes

churchtimes.co.uk
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Dr Hetta Howes retweeted
mary beard@wmarybeard2 Jul 2025
I remember crying in a faculty meeting in Cambridge. Two thoughts. When I walked out (to disguise it) ,only one guy came out to find out if I was ok. I still remember, GH, thank you. The other is can’t we let people cry? Maybe it is the right reaction.
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The TLS@TheTLS4 Jun 2025
'Beowulf is a poem about macho culture. Women do put in appearances, but they are rarely centre stage.' Hetta Howes on masculinity and misogyny in Beowulf the-tls.co.uk/literature-by-…

Now and how we got here

Masculinity and misogyny in Beowulf

the-tls.com
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Huge thanks to @HettaHowes for her enlightening Julian Lecture 2025. Please read the screenshot from the parish (also in its Alt-text for screenreaders) sharing their joy in welcoming everyone today. #JulianOfNorwich #JulianLecture #FriendsOfJulian #RevelationsOfDivineLove
St Julian's Church filled to the bring as Hetta Howes delivered the Julian Lecture 2025

ALT St Julian's Church filled to the bring as Hetta Howes delivered the Julian Lecture 2025

Screenshot from the parish facebook of text saying: We were thrilled to welcome 110 people to St Julian's, Norwich this afternoon for the annual Julian Lecture: every spare seat was taken, Fr Bruce sat on an upturned flower bucket, and people were sitting in the cell and standing in the porch! Despite some of the discomfort, we hope everyone was able to benefit from the lecture. Dr Hetta Howes of City St George’s, University of London gave a splendid presentation exploring the lives of medieval women and society's expectations of them, and looking particularly at how Julian of Norwich, in her seclusion in the anchorhold in this place, was able to exercise a radical freedom while also seeking her ultimate fulfilment in knowing and loving God, without whom she knew she would always be in want.

ALT Screenshot from the parish facebook of text saying: We were thrilled to welcome 110 people to St Julian's, Norwich this afternoon for the annual Julian Lecture: every spare seat was taken, Fr Bruce sat on an upturned flower bucket, and people were sitting in the cell and standing in the porch! Despite some of the discomfort, we hope everyone was able to benefit from the lecture. Dr Hetta Howes of City St George’s, University of London gave a splendid presentation exploring the lives of medieval women and society's expectations of them, and looking particularly at how Julian of Norwich, in her seclusion in the anchorhold in this place, was able to exercise a radical freedom while also seeking her ultimate fulfilment in knowing and loving God, without whom she knew she would always be in want.

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Hands up who made it along to the Dragon Hall yesterday? There’s plenty more tomorrow, when Hetta Howes gives the Julian Lecture tomorrow: The Julian Lecture and Festival 9th-10th May 2025 – Friends of Julian of Norwich No need to book. #JulianOfNorwich #JulianLecture
The Dragon Hall in evening sunshine

ALT The Dragon Hall in evening sunshine

Hetta Howes, Sally-Anne Lomas and Catherine Coldstream on stage

ALT Hetta Howes, Sally-Anne Lomas and Catherine Coldstream on stage

The Dragon Hall sign, complete with dragon

ALT The Dragon Hall sign, complete with dragon

Digital board advertising event at the Dragon Hall

ALT Digital board advertising event at the Dragon Hall

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Dr Hetta Howes retweeted
Church Times@ChurchTimes6 May 2025
.@simonparke celebrates Julian of Norwich and her shock value churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2…

Julian of Norwich: Replacing rage with love

Simon Parke celebrates Julian of Norwich and her shock value

churchtimes.co.uk
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When did you first hear of Julian of Norwich? 650 yrs old and still relevant. A joy to be leading the Writing Julian festival workshop 13 May ✍️📝 #julian650 ⁦@JuliansShowings⁩ #julianofnorwich ⁦@WritersCentre⁩
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Julian of Norwich lecture and festival event 2025... Friends of Julian is hosting The Julian Lecture alongside a joint event with the National Centre for Writing in Norwich next weekend. networknorwich.co.uk/Article… @JuliansShowings

Network Norwich and Norfolk

networknorwich.co.uk
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May 8th is Julian of Norwich's Feast Day so why not celebrate by reading about her extraordinary life in Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife by Hetta Howes! Out now in hardback!
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Tomorrow (9 May) ahead of her Julian Lecture on Saturday, Hetta Howes will appear with Catherine Coldstream in conversation with @LomasSal at the Dragon Hall. Tickets selling fast but still available at time of posting: nationalcentreforwriting.org… #JulianOfNorwich
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I was super excited to cover one of our best sources on viking cultural practice... which was written by an Arab traveller. I love how the medieval world is so much more interconnected than most people assume, and how it is full of inquisitive adventurous people. Check it out!
History Hit💥
@HistoryHit15 Apr 2025
The Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan wrote down his remarkable first-hand observations of Vikings in the Volga. Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Thorir Jonsson Hraundal to explore his riveting account of ritual, belief and cultural intersection: eu1.hubs.ly/H0j6JfH0 @GoingMedieval
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Dr Hetta Howes retweeted
Maude Frome@frome_maude13 Apr 2025
Lily of the Valley is one of the lillies of #Easter. Originally linked to Ostara, the ancient Germanic goddess of spring, the flower symbolises the arrival of new light & life. Fairies are said to drink from its cups & it also protects gardens from evil spirits. #FolkloreSunday
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