I think if this book had had a different title, I might have enjoyed it more—it created expectations which didn't really jibe with what the book is about. Elkins focused mostly on nuns, with some early exploration of hermits/recluses, and while I know that there aren't so many sources to draw on for other kinds of religious women, I would have liked to see more examination of them. Similarly, while I think it's important to situate religious women within a wider context which includes religious and lay men, I thought that at times Elkins went off on too many tangents about men without telling us why this was important for the study of women. There was lots of useful information, and I came across several references which I'm going to have to explore further, but sometimes the analysis just seemed so out-of-left-field that it made me suspicious of Elkins' argumentation in general. The facts may be sound, but I can't recommend the analysis. Disappointing. ( )