The Selected Writings of Christine De Pizan (Norton Critical Editions) [Paperback]

Christine de Pizan (Author), Renate Blumenfeld-Kosinski (Editor, Translator), Kevin Brownlee (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 17, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0393970108 | ISBN-13: 978-0393970104 | Edition: 1st

Christine de Pizan (ca. 1364-ca. 1421) is Europe’s first professional woman writer. She wrote an astonishing body of work in many genres, including lyric poetry, allegorical dream visions, history, political treatises, and biography.

This Norton Critical Edition presents selections from eighteen of Christine’s major works in fresh, contemporary translations.  Each text is fully annotated and is accompanied by an introduction placing it in the context of Christine’s oeuvre and tracing the literary developments and the historical situation of the period.  The Book of Fortune’s Transformation and The Book of the City of Ladies include manuscript illuminations.

"Criticism" collects seven important interpretations of the literary and historical aspects of Christine’s work, by Jacqueline Cerquiglini, Beatrice Gottlieb, Renate Blumenfeld-Kosinski, Sheila Delany, Patricia A. Phillippy, Joel Blanchard, and Kevin Brownlee.  A Selected Bibliography is included.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)

About the Author

Renate Blumenfeld-Kosinski is an Associate Professor in the Department of French and Italian at the University of Pittsburgh.  She is the author of Not of Woman Born: Representations of Caesarean Birth in Medieval and Renaissance Culture; The Writings of Margaret Oingt, Medieval Prioress and Mystic; and Reading Myth: Classical Mythology and Its Interpretations in Medieval French Literature.

Kevin Brownlee is Professor of Romance Languages at the University of Pennsylvania.  He is the author of Discourses of the Self: Autobiography and Literary Models in Christine de Pizan and Poetic Identity in Guillaume de Machaut.  His edited works include Rethinking the "Romance of the Rose"; Text, Image, Reception; The New Medievalism; and Discourses of Authority in Medieval and Renaissance Literature.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1st edition (January 17, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393970108
• ISBN-13: 978-0393970104
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #324,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Christine's writing was good, criticisms are bad, November 24, 2000

By 

Jeffrey Leach (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Selected Writings of Christine De Pizan (Norton Critical Editions) (Paperback)

This is an excellent collection of excerpts from the writings of the 15th century author Christine de Pizan. Pizan, a trasplanted Italian in France, churned out a massive body of work on every type of conceivable subject; politics, love, history, philosophy, panegyric as well as love ballads. Pizan was the first professional female writer, no mean feat in a male dominated world.

I have to say I'm pretty impressed with her writings. She has a sharp intellect that shines throughout her works. She also uses her own personal experiences in her writings (Christine was widowed at the age of 25 and had to turn to writing to support herself and her family). Christine also studied the classics profusely, which she puts to heavy use in her stories. The best excerpt was probably from her best known work, The City of Ladies, in which Christine symbolically builds a city to house all of the virtuous women from history. The reason is to showcase women who have contributed much to society and history, as well as to refute what Christine perceived as the tendency in male literature to demonize women. This excerpt has certainly made me want to read this work. It's done in such a clever way that the reader can't help but smile as Christine scores points against misogynistic egomaniacs who attack women for their own personal gain.

The second part of the book consists of several scholarly criticisms that for the most part aren't worth much, which is why I gave the book three stars. The best criticism was written by Sheila Delany, who wrote that while Christine defended women against the attacks of men, she in no way was what we would call a feminist. Christine upheld the power structure of 15th century France, which not only was ruled by men to the exclusion of women, but also was heavily stacked against the common man.

An excellent book that I would recommend to anyone interested in literature or history. Again, the three stars I gave this book in no way reflect on Christine de Pizan or her works.

5 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great one!, May 26, 2000

By 

Tanya Kelley - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Selected Writings of Christine De Pizan (Norton Critical Editions) (Paperback)

This book was exellent! I as student was researching Christine de Pizan for a school report. I soon learned she was the most intresting woman. She was a feminest, humanist writer, painter and poet. She had strong morals and was also out going. I enjoyed this book because it was about the femenist side of her. It shoved those male shovanistic pigs away! Even though Christine only became a writer/ poet beacuse it was her only choice to support her family it was probably the best choice she made in her life! I think that if you really want to see the true Christine than pick up this book and read about one of the most learned women of the Rennesance time! Sincerly, Tanya Kelley [e-mail]

5 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great one!, May 26, 2000

By 

Tanya Kelley - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Selected Writings of Christine De Pizan (Norton Critical Editions) (Paperback)

This book was exellent! I as student was researching Christine de Pizan for a school report. I soon learned she was the most intresting woman. She was a feminest, humanist writer, painter and poet. She had stron g morals and was also out going. I enjoyed this book because it was about the femenist side of her. It shved the male shovanistic pigs away! anyway i really loved this book and hey i'm only 13! so for everbody over 13 this would be a great book to buy!