Licoricia of Winchester: an exception who proves the rule?

The remarkable medieval moneylender, Licoricia of Winchester rose from obscure beginnings to become the personal banker to Henry III and the richest Jewish woman in 13th century England.  Twice married, twice widowed and the mother of four sons, she was a self-made woman in a man-made world.  But in an age of political turmoil and rising antisemitism, she also experienced at first hand mounting anti-Jewish legislation, local expulsions and violent attacks that culminated in personal tragedy.   Who was this extraordinary woman, and what lessons might medieval England hold for us today?

Rebecca Abrams is the author of several books on Jewish history, including The Jewish Journey:  4000 years in 22 objects and Jewish Treasures from Oxford Libraries.  Her most recent publication is Licoricia of Winchester:  Power and Prejudice in Medieval England.  She teaches creative writing at the University of Oxford and is a regular literary critic for the Financial Times.