Margaret Paston
(1423–1484)

Margaret Paston, whose letters provide a window into 15th-century England, was one of several female correspondents in the famous Paston letters. Taken together, the letters of Margaret, her mother-in-law, Agnes, and her daughter-in-law, Margery, span nearly an entire century and reflect many changes in personal relationships and ways of life.

Restricted by their status as females, these women may not have been entirely literate; it is known that the great majority of the letters were dictated to scribes. Nevertheless, the women's voices come through–and none more so than Margaret's. After taking charge of her household's economic affairs and defending her home against armed attackers, Margaret once referred herself as a "captainess," thus showing an acute awareness of her role in the family. Throughout her letters, Margaret's strong character is consistently evident in what has been called "the overflowing strength of her prose."

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