Between Pit and Pedestal does an admirable job describing the life of real women in the Middle Ages as they live between the 'pit of hell' characeterized by the fall of Eve and the saintly pedestal of the Virgin Mary. The book covers all aspects of medieval life from the home and hearth to sex, religion, land ownership, the legal system and government. The book is readable and is well-suited for the general reader. My only complaint with the book is that at times it reads like a string of factoids strung together and individual stories lacks depth. This fault is somewhat required by the survey nature of the book. Recommended for anyone interested in the Middle Ages or women in history. ( )