The FIRST book in the series

HIDDEN WOMEN
A History of Europe, Celts & Freedom

by Jacqueline Widmar Stewart

5 x 8 inches. 186 pp, 101 full-color images. 6 poems

Hardcover ISBN 979-8389166394 — $29.95
Paperback ISBN 978-1973559740 — $24.99
Kindle ASIN — $9.99

This book along with Books 1 & 3 of the HIDDEN WOMEN series won Gold for 2020! from the Big Book Awards based in new york city

Publication date November 15, 2018
Hardback ISBN 979-8865170952 — $28.95
Paperback ISBN 978-1731089977— $24.95
Kindle ASIN B07KMJL3YJ — $3.95

Page count 174 pages
Genre/Subgenre Nonfiction/Travel & History

This book along with Books 1 & 2 of the HIDDEN WOMEN series won Gold for 2020! from the Big Book Awards based in new york city

Publication date November 21, 2019
Hardcover ISBN 979-8865248521 — $31.95
Paperback ISBN 97-81710294163 — $24.75
Kindle ASIN B0CWDHTCNW — $3.95

Page count 204 pages
Genre/Subgenre Nonfiction/Travel & History

Publication date August 5, 2020
Hardcover ISBN 979-8865267355 — $29.95
Paperback ISBN 979-8642223307 — $24.95
Kindle ASIN B0CW1LQHS7 — $3.95

Page count 184 pages
Genre/Subgenre Nonfiction/Travel & History

Publication date March 31, 2023
Hardcover ISBN 979-8389322738 — $29.95
Paperback ISBN 979-8388800442 — $24.95
Kindle ASIN B0CXMR8B96 — $3.95

Page count 183 pages
Genre/Subgenre Nonfiction/Travel & History

Publication date March 5, 2024
Hardcover ISBN 979-8883121684 — $39.95
Paperback ISBN 979-8883479983 — $32.00
Kindle ASIN B0CWYR72SD — $3.95

Page count 280 pages
Genre/Subgenre Nonfiction/Travel & History

2020 INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARDS

2020 WINNER IN THE WORLD HISTORY CATEGORY

HIDDEN WOMEN:
Frankish Splendor & Valor in Celtic Europe

by Jacqueline Widmar Stewart

The Independent Publisher Book Awards, also styled the IPPY Awards, is a set of annual book awards for independently published titles. It is the longest-running unaffiliated contest open exclusively to independent presses.

2020 DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE IN THE WOMEN’S ISSUES CATEGORY

HIDDEN WOMEN:
Celtic Burgundy & Europe

by Jacqueline Widmar Stewart

The Independent Publisher Book Awards, also styled the IPPY Awards, is a set of annual book awards for independently published titles. It is the longest-running unaffiliated contest open exclusively to independent presses.

theusreview.com

HIDDEN WOMEN
A History of Europe, Celts & Freedom

by Jacqueline Widmar Stewart
Published by Lexicus Press, LLP

book review by Michelle Jacobs

"New information gives glimpses into a world where women were treated better 2000 years ago than today."

What do the Celts have to do with the tax-exempt status of churches? Stewart’s book makes its way to a connection in this wide-ranging exploration of Celtic history. She begins with a song of praise to women and ends with a bulleted call to action for “going forward” to reclaim the values and cultural equilibrium achieved by the ancient Celts. Overall, the purpose of the book is to explore the hidden layers of Celtic history in Europe which can be found through archeological discoveries, analysis of Roman conquests, and a critique of the rise of Christianity. She invites readers to reconsider history by looking more closely at the role of women and of the family in the Celtic tradition.

Stewart acknowledges the role and value of “ancestral women” throughout the book and reminds readers that history is often written by the victor. As a result, women have been devalued in history and ignored as equal partners and leaders. This loss of place in history has ramifications still felt today as women strive for equality. But Stewart believes it is possible to uncover the history of the suppressed if one “seek(s) the Celtic layer in all of Europe”—for the Celtic layer revered women as creators, artisans, partners, and defenders of the family. Stewart leads the way in this endeavor for truth by examining the past, discovering new finds in the present, and inspiring the future.

Beautiful color photographs, informative maps, and copious endnotes all provide support for this well-researched historical inquiry and critique. Each section leads with a poem that highlights the theme and provides an effective contrast of tone and form to this reference book and historical guide. With this feminist view of history, Stewart has crafted an inclusive examination of the ancient Celts and the values they held. The work feels fresh and original as Stewart highlights ancient female warriors, feminist writers, thinkers, and archeologists. Women who have been neglected in the history books until Stewart resurrected their names set off a brief spark that will inspire the reader to mine other history books and biographies for more in-depth information.

Like Hidden Figures, a movie which also rescued amazing and accomplished women from obscurity, Stewart’s book reminds us that women have always influenced the ways of the world. Stewart digs deep into the ancient past, but the result is the same: women take their rightful place in the history of the world. These stories of women in history are extremely relevant and necessary as women today have ignited a new movement that demands attention. As the #MeToo movement gains traction, Stewart’s book feels prescient and wise as she seeks to take back history to tell the story of the Celts who treated women with reverence and the family as the core of the community. Just as the Me Too Movement challenges social norms, Stewart expertly challenges the legacy of a male hierarchy that has silenced and subjugated women.

With multi-disciplinary evidence and a persuasive voice, Stewart calls out the domineering historical legacies of conquerors and of religion that have sought to silence the stories of women. She argues elegantly for women without the shrill overtones of desperate anger that conservative critics might dismiss. Stewart’s tone will appeal to all readers of history as she celebrates Celtic women and connects their legacy with present-day social issues. Stewart, not content to merely criticize, offers solutions to the problems women face because of historical misrepresentations, inaccuracies, and the inheritance of patriarchy. Stewart’s advocacy is powerful and practical and is synchronized perfectly with the voices of today calling out for change.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review

theusreview.com

HIDDEN WOMEN
Celtic Burgundy & Europe

by Jacqueline Widmar Stewart
Published by Lexicus Press, LLP

Book Review by Kat Kennedy

"Celtic women fought alongside their men to defend their families; Roman women did not."

The second in a series of books addressing pre-Christian, pre-Roman history hidden within the artifacts of Europe until a century ago, this study brings to light the fascinating discoveries that challenge written accounts of the time. In her attempt to address the implications of the findings, the author relies solely on the archaeology and uses only those written histories which can be independently verified. This look at the accomplishments and contributions of Celtic Burgundy reveals a society whose influence is seen throughout Europe today in architecture, education, hydrology, and textiles. One of the most astounding findings of the artifacts, however, is the equality which women and men enjoyed in Celtic society. In fact, studies reveal that the treatment of women changed dramatically around 2,000 years ago with their subjugation and designation as the mere property of fathers and husbands.

Stewart’s book is not only one of historical importance; it is one of beauty. Scattered throughout are poems of the author’s impressions of visited sites and the stories they reveal, and anyone wishing to find European sites offering a glimpse into Celtic civilization will also find a useful appendix listing them as well as numerous maps marking important areas of Celtic Burgundy. The many photographs of what was once Celtic Burgundy are as stunning as the newly uncovered history that continues to emerge from its artifacts. The work shines a light onto a world, a long-hidden pre-Christian world, which revered women as the gateway to the future, but also honored the leadership, valor, and accomplishments of both [its] men and women. It is an intriguing world the author introduces to readers and one which calls into question the forces behind its demise.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review

theusreview.com

HIDDEN WOMEN
Frankish Splendor & Valor in Celtic Europe

by Jacqueline Widmar Stewart
Published by Lexicus Press, LLP

Book Review by Barbara Bamberger Scott

"Uncovering Europe's Celtic past can bring its present into clearer focus so that the world can see a more accurate ancestral story."

Author Stewart has created a vibrant series highlighting the significant role of women in Europe, especially Celtic, history through prose, poetry, and photographs. This volume focuses on the Franks, who at one time occupied the large valley known as Pannonia lying cradled within three mountain ranges. Stewart invites us to imagine the region before the ascension of the male-dominated Catholic Church when travelers could stay at abbeys housing both men and women, enjoy sumptuous hospitality, visit fairs, learn crafts, and bask in natural hot springs surrounded by magnificent artworks celebrating women's roles and leadership. Though Celtic peoples like the Franks were oppressed and suppressed by churches and conquerors, Stewart's book affords us a glimpse of the stately manses, the peaceful rivers and forests, and the remarkable artistry of that earlier place and time.

Stewart is convinced that pre-Christian, pre-Catholic peoples honored women as leaders. They were formally depicted in buildings and monuments, as witnessed by the many statues of females. Some of them, as in Laon, France, were later beheaded or vandalized. Many appear in the book, such as a famous frieze in Austria in a church that, Stewart states, was probably once a Celtic hall. Designated as Saint Catherine, the portrait was likely originally a mighty Celtic woman standing by a wheel, a potent Celtic symbol. Stewart, a student of Celtic language, cites instances of distortion of Celtic words into Latin. Her poetry, as well as the rich narrative accompanying the photos collected here, indicates her sincere, strongly held conviction that we should reject the "all-male hierarchy" not only of established churches but of any belief system allowing no authority to the feminine principle. Her work presents a challenge to readers, offering the aesthetic satisfaction of its illustrations while invoking a call for radical change in intellectual perspective.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review

theusreview.com

HIDDEN WOMEN
Charlemagne's Celtic Domain

by Jacqueline Widmar Stewart
Published by Lexicus Press, LLC

book review by Nicole Yurcaba

"Repurposing items as fundamental to Celtic culture as their wine vessels gives a small idea of the lengths to which conquerors have gone to erase all Celtic traces."

In this detailed historical study, readers venture through a past rife with violence, cultural erasure, and misogyny. Readers encounter a discussion that casts Charlemagne, the head of the Holy Roman Empire, in a new light. This discussion then informs readers about the Europe of today. Most significant in this book is the analysis of women and the persecution of women and children. The book challenges readers by asserting that "More and more the Christian conquest is being seen as responsible for destroying and literally defacing likenesses of women." Readers travel through France, Germany, and Czechia via colorful photography that brings some of Europe's most valued historical places and landscapes to their living rooms.

For readers interested in Europe's origins and some of the most controversial conquests of their time, this book is an illuminated gateway to the past. Its discussion of the persecution and erasure of women from significant historical venues places the work into the modern feminist conversation. The detailed maps of trade and travel routes make this book an interactive adventure, and the colorful photography makes it a unique type of coffee table book. For history lovers, it is a must-read because of its detailed assertions about Charlemagne and Europe as a whole. Those readers interested in aspects of European culture like wine production and its importance to certain areas of Europe will also appreciate this book because of its presentation about the subject. Overall, this is an informative, accessible read perfect for history experts and novices alike

The first in the HIDDEN WOMEN series was a 2018 Eric Hoffer Book Award Montaigne Medal Finalist.

the series INTRODUCTION

All roads appear to lead to Rome

….but keep digging. Underneath the Roman roads and baths lie the vestiges of a beautiful Celtic world, one in which women served as pillars of a wealthy, family-based society.  

The Celtic laid out their roads on solstice lines, straight from point to point. The author’s route to the Celts has been less direct, but rich with golden discoveries, intricate and fine. Integral to the Celtic legacy, the beauty of Europe’s landscapes reflects their stewardship to the natural world; their devotion to children advances ancestral standards.

french Translation

FEMMES CACHEE
Une histoire de l’Europe
des Celtes & de la Liberté

PAR Jacqueline Widmar Stewart

En entrant dans le monde des Celtes, réfléchissez au rôle des femmes et à la façon dont ce rôle a changé sous l’influence de Rome et de la religion. Le savoir-faire exquis associé aux femmes préchrétiennes ajoute une dimension fascinante. Pendant des siècles, cet art - ainsi que les femmes elles-mêmes - a été largement condamné par les autorités religieuses.

S’il vous plaît être ouvert d’esprit. Une nouvelle preuve des compétences techniques et communicatives étonnantes des Celtes doit surmonter les stéréotypes de longue date des hordes barbares. On sait maintenant que les liens familiaux d’origine se prolongent jusqu’à nos jours. Les populations actuelles ont plus que jamais besoin de l’ancienne administration celtique du pays et des sages lois de la nature.

German Translation

VERDECKTE FRAUEN
Eine Geschichte Europas, Kelten & Freiheit

VON Jacqueline Widmar Stewart

Neue Funde erfordern einen neuen Blick auf Frauen in der europäischen Geschichte. Vergrabene Schätze zeigen immer überzeugender, dass die alten Kelten in Europa Frauen so schätzten wie spätere Reiche nicht. Die Archäologie entdeckt große Unterschiede zwischen diesen familienzentrierten Bevölkerungsgruppen und dem Römischen Reich, die ihre Expansion durch Eroberung, Besetzung und Versklavung der keltischen Völker befeuerten. In den letzten 2000 Jahren hat der institutionalisierte Sexismus Roms elitäre Männerherrschaft bis in die Gegenwart getragen.

Slovenian Translation

SKRITE ŽENSKE
Zgodovina Evrope, Keltov in Svobode

Jacqueline Widmar Stewart

Nove najdbe zahtevajo nov pogled na ženske v evropski zgodovini. Vse prepričljivejše zakopani zakladi kažejo, da so stari Kelti v Evropi cenili ženske na edinstven način, kar pa ne velja za poznejše imperije. Arheologija odkriva velike razlike med tem družinsko usmerjenim prebivalstvom in rimskim cesarstvom, se je širilo z osvajanjem, zasedbo in zasužnjevanjem keltskih ljudstev. Za zadnjih 2000 letih je za Rim značilna institucionalizirana moška dominacija.  

slovenski prevod e-knjige je brezplačen za prenos.
Prosim, uživajte!

the other books INTRODUCTION

The search for an unvarnished view of the past

…. started in the author’s hometown of Beverly Shores, Indiana. Even that tiny place leapt to new significance in a recent trip to Beverly, England – a charming market town where former fest halls still laud feminine contributions. According to local lore, “Beverly” derives from “beaver lea.” The name was chosen to describe marshy shores busy with furry creatures, reminiscent of Lake Michigan’s southern edge that once attracted French trappers.

The author first try at sharing the wealth of overlooked places resulted in The Glaciers’ Treasure Trove.  From an enchanted childhood on the shores of America’s heartland, she has witnessed incomparable dunelands receive the protection of national parklands. In writing that book, both the ancient geology of the Lake’s formation and the philanthropy that preserved it came into focus. Production of this book also presaged the future. Remy Steiner laid out the first one and now adds her creative artistry to Hidden Women books and website.

For the second book Finding Slovenia - now in its 6th printing - the hunt for the past expanded back to her grandparents’ homeland. A courageous young woman at Slovenia’s premiere publishing house, Senja Požar, worked with the novice author to produce a book that relied on color photographic narrative in the way the first book did. Officials from Slovenia’s exquisite national park Triglav arranged for the author and daughter Julie to visit stunning sites, using cell phones to hook up with rangers along the way. 

While at the Frankfurt Book Fair to promote Finding Slovenia, the author and her husband combed the aisles of the cavernous halls - at the advice of her mentor/first grade teacher Carol Ruzic. In one unattended corner, she found the superb display of German publisher Axel Menges. After Axel and his wife Dorothea Duwe received a mock-up of her work, the architect/publisher team coached her on photography.  The purchase of a professional camera, new computer and four more photography trips to Paris later, Parks and Gardens in Greater Paris came into the Axel Menges catalog. That book has subsequently been translated into French.

The following year Axel Menges published Champagne Regained, the culmination of research conducted in the Champagne region. Although the subject of the inquiry started with the beautiful medieval town of Troyes, it led to European textile markets and to the development of the region’s famed elixir - by 200 years of widows! It also opened the on-going exploration of Europe’s buried layer of history concerning Celts and women.

Parcs et Jardins de Paris
et Ses Environs
— French Edition —

Depuis plus de 350 ans, les parisiens conçoivent et préservent des espaces extérieurs publics phénoménaux. Dans ce livre, Jacqueline Widmar Stewart suit les fils fins de la tapisserie des parcs du Grand Paris. L’identification de diverses caractéristiques des ères de construction de parcs de premier plan confère à chaque parc une qualité multidimensionnelle et permet aux lecteurs de découvrir ces grands espaces verts à la manière des Parisiens.

Finding Slovenia
A Guide to Old Europe’s Young Country
— Second edition out now —

Now in its 7th printing, the award-winning book guides visitors to a rich enjoyment of a spectacular land. Slovenians prize their mountains, forests, and seacoast, and welcome others to join them in lifting both glass and fork. Castles, thermal springs, riverside walkways, and charming architecture reflect the country’s long cultural heritage of natural and historic preservation.

First published in 2009, with 7 print runs
Now available from publisher Mladinska knjiga 
Online & in bookstores in Slovenia 

Hardcover $29.95, ISBN: 978-961-01-0851-1 | Click here to order

Finding Slovenia
A Guide to Old Europe’s New Country
— FIRST edition —

Fleeing imperial Austria before the scourge of two world wars, the author’s grandparents never could have imagined their small homeland as a free country. The new book by Stanford-educated attorney Jacqueline Widmar Stewart portrays the natural and cultural history of this green gem, long hidden away in Central Europe. In the space of two generations the stunningly beautiful little land has lifted itself from a feudalistic past to lead the European Union as an independent nation. The 2009 London Book Festival has selected Finding Slovenia: A Guide to Old Europe s New Country as runner-up in the Wild Card category in its annual competition honoring the best of international publishing. Finding Slovenia also was selected as Finalist in the National Best Books 2009 Awards Travel Category by USA Book News.