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United Arab Emirates Janina Ramirez is a cultural historian, broadcaster, and author who illuminates medieval art and culture for a wide-ranging audience through her acclaimed books and television programs.
Janina Ramirez is a Sunday Times bestselling author with Penguin Random House, publishing books including her acclaimed work 'Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Written Out of It'.
Janina Ramirez has authored children's books and historical works, such as 'Riddle of the Runes (A Viking Mystery)' and 'Way of the Waves (A Viking Mystery)', published by Oxford University Press.
Janina Ramirez has a significant broadcasting career with the BBC, presenting numerous historical documentaries and series, including 'Treasures of the Anglo-Saxons' and 'The Viking Sagas' on BBC Four.
Janina Ramirez presented the three-part series 'Lost Worlds and Hidden Treasures', which is available on Apple TV.
David Fickling Books, along with Penguin UK Books and Waterstones, partnered on events to celebrate the launch of one of Janina Ramirez's books.
Waterstones has partnered with Penguin UK Books and David Fickling Books for events celebrating the launch of Janina Ramirez's books.
Janina Ramirez, born on July 7, 1980, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is a distinguished British art and cultural historian, television presenter, and author. She began her academic journey at St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School in Slough, Berkshire, where she served as head girl. She then pursued higher education at St Anne’s College, Oxford, earning a degree in English literature with a specialization in Old and Middle English. Her postgraduate studies at the Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, culminated in a PhD focused on “The symbolic life of birds in Anglo-Saxon England” in 2006. This academic foundation laid the groundwork for her career, combining deep scholarly research with accessible public engagement.
Following her doctoral research, Ramirez held lecturing positions at various esteemed institutions, including the University of York’s Art History Department, the University of Winchester, the University of Warwick, and the University of Oxford. Until 2021, she was the course director for the Certificate in History of Art at the University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education. Her expertise in medieval art, cultural history, and architectural history has been central to her academic and public work. In 2021, she became a Research Fellow in History of Art at Harris Manchester College, Oxford, and in January 2024, she was appointed Visiting Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Lincoln. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS) and a patron of various organizations, including NSEAD, the Stained Glass Society, and Oxford Festival of the Arts.
Ramirez transitioned into broadcasting in 2009, bringing her historical insights to a broader audience through numerous BBC Four programs. Her television credits include “Treasures of the Anglo-Saxons” (2010), “The Viking Sagas” (2011), “Illuminations: The Private Lives of Medieval Kings” (2012), and “Femina” (2022). She has authored several books, including children’s titles, and the Sunday Times bestseller “Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Written Out of It” (2022). Her upcoming book, “Legenda: The Real Women Behind the Myths That Shaped Europe,” is set to be published in November 2025, continuing her work of re-evaluating historical narratives and highlighting the lives of medieval women.
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