Tale of a Fool?: A Microhistory of an 18th-Century Peasant Woman

Guðrún Ketilsdóttir's partial autobiography, believed to be the oldest autobiography of an Icelandic peasant woman, provides a first-hand account of her life and society in the 18th and 19th centuries. Using microhistory methods, the book explores the place of the individual in traditional agrarian societies and highlights the impact of women on cultural and social history. It is ideal for researchers of microhistory and early modern Iceland/Scandinavia.

Format: Hardback
Length: 182 pages
Publication date: 03 April 2019
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

A Tale of a Fool? delves into the remarkable life of Guðrún Ketilsdóttir, a peasant woman born in Iceland around 1759. Guðrún spent the majority of her adult years working as a farmhand, and upon her passing, she left behind a partial autobiography, which is widely regarded as the oldest autobiography of an Icelandic peasant woman.

In this autobiography, Guðrún candidly shares her experiences, offering vivid portrayals of the society in which she lived. As one of the few firsthand accounts that have survived from members of the peasant class during that era, her narrative provides a valuable insight into the lives of ordinary individuals during that time.

A Tale of a Fool? showcases the potential of utilizing microhistory as a historical tool to study events and individuals from the past. By employing this approach, the book not only offers an enlightening exploration of the life of a peasant woman in the 18th and 19th centuries but also raises important questions about the methods, priorities, and interpretations employed in the collection, cataloguing, and publication of women's writing.

Through its analysis of the individual's place in traditional agrarian societies and the significant contributions that women made to the cultural and social history of the period, A Tale of a Fool? is an invaluable resource for researchers interested in microhistory and early modern Iceland/Scandinavia. It sheds light on the experiences of ordinary people and challenges prevailing narratives, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the past.

Weight: 428g
Dimension: 163 x 241 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138061347