Band of Angels - by Kate Cooper (Paperback)

About the Book

Uncover the hidden history of early Christianity through the eyes of the remarkable women who played a crucial role in its spread.

Book Synopsis

Uncover the hidden history of early Christianity through the eyes of the remarkable women who played a crucial role in its spread. In Band of Angels, distinguished historian Kate Cooper brings to light the stories of women from all walks of life who were instrumental in the rapid expansion of Christianity.

Drawing on meticulous research and rare contemporary accounts, Cooper reveals how these women navigated the complexities of the ancient world to lay the foundations of the early Christian church. Praised as "personal, fresh, and timely" by The Tablet and "engaging reading for specialists and general readers alike" by Kirkus.

From the Galilean women who followed Jesus to the influential Desert Mothers, their contributions have long been overlooked but are now vividly brought to life.

This compelling narrative not only highlights the spiritual and social impact of these women but also demonstrates how their legacy continues to inspire and shape modern faith communities. Band of Angels is a testament to the power of unseen individuals and the transformative potential of ideas, one household at a time.

Review Quotes

"A distinguished ancient historian s elegant study of the extraordinary women who helped lay the foundations of the early Christian church Engaging reading for specialists and general readers alike." "Kirkus Reviews"
Advance praise for "Band of Angels"
This remarkable book is the best sort of engaged history, looking at familiar texts in new ways, while also revealing unfamiliar personalities and sources covering five centuries of early Christian development. It offers reflection on the meanings for contemporary Christian Churches which emerge from the stories that it tells. It makes an elegant and enjoyable contribution to unravelling centuries of unwarranted assumptions about the role of women in ministry and Christian life. - Diarmaid MacCulloch, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years"
"I don't quite know another book like this one...One great gift of this book involves women's agency. Contrary to the worn-out canard that Roman women "were just property," Cooper explains how Roman law allowed widows and even daughters control over property and wide room for influence Cooper has presented us with a wide-ranging, informative study. I admire her learning and her guidance, and she knows how to lead an audience. I am especially grateful that she chose to follow the lives of individual women rather than to build an abstract argument." "Huffington Post""

"A distinguished ancient historian's elegant study of the extraordinary women who helped lay the foundations of the early Christian church...Engaging reading for specialists and general readers alike." --"Kirkus Reviews"
Advance praise for "Band of Angels"
"This remarkable book is the best sort of engaged history, looking at familiar texts in new ways, while also revealing unfamiliar personalities and sources covering five centuries of early Christian development. It offers reflection on the meanings for contemporary Christian Churches which emerge from the stories that it tells. It makes an elegant and enjoyable contribution to unravelling centuries of unwarranted assumptions about the role of women in ministry and Christian life." ---Diarmaid MacCulloch, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years"
"I don't quite know another book like this one...One great gift of this book involves women's agency. Contrary to the worn-out canard that Roman women "were just property," Cooper explains how Roman law allowed widows and even daughters control over property and wide room for influence... Cooper has presented us with a wide-ranging, informative study. I admire her learning and her guidance, and she knows how to lead an audience. I am especially grateful that she chose to follow the lives of individual women rather than to build an abstract argument." --"Huffington Post"

About the Author

Kate Cooper is Professor of Ancient History at the University of Machester. Born in Washington, DC, she was educated at Princeton, Harvard, and Wesleyan universities.