# Women of Bath and Willesden: Ordinary Women in English Literature

- Institution: Gresham College
- Speaker: Professor Marion Turner
- Year: 2026
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: Literature and writing
- Source: [Gresham College](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/women-bath)
- Licence: [Educational use (Gresham College's terms)](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/terms-and-conditions)
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

In this lecture, Professor Marion Turner explores ‘ordinary women’ in English literature, arguing that Chaucer’s 14th-century Wife of Bath was the first such woman: a middle-aged, sexually active working woman who tells the outrageous story of her own life.Zadie Smith’s 21st century translation of her story demonstrates the ongoing relevance of thinking about the space we have for women’s voices in theatre, poetry and public life.

## Lectures

1. [Women of Bath and Willesden: Ordinary Women in English Literature](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/women-bath/77959ff7c8d6) (YouTube)