Women Writers of the Middle Ages: A Critical Study of Texts from Perpetua to Marguerite Porete [Paperback]

Peter Dronke (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521275733 | ISBN-13: 978-0521275736 | Publication Date: May 25, 1984

This book gives a detailed picture of the contributions made by women writers to Western literature from the third century to the thirteenth. Many of the texts Peter Dronke presents and interprets have hitherto remained unknown, or virtually inaccessible; some have never been edited or translated before. The emphasis throughout is on personal testimonies, and on texts that have notable literary or intellectual interest. Thus the book affords many new insights into medieval literature, not only into the writings of renowned women such as Hrotsvitha or Heloise, but also into those of a number of neglected writers who are exceptional in their gifts and individuality. Already highly influential, Women Writers of the Middle Ages continues to be essential reading for specialists and students alike in medieval literature, medieval intellectual history, and women's studies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Women Writers of the Middle Ages compels us to re-examine our fundamental assumptions about medieval literature; it forces us to reconsider what constitutes good or even great literature and on what tenets literary canonization operates.' English Language Studies

'This must be one of the best books on women's writing. Mr Dronke is like the Chaucer who took such pains, in his Legend of Good Women, to write in the service of women, literature, elegance and wit.' The Times Literary Supplement

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (May 25, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521275733
• ISBN-13: 978-0521275736
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #970,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Resource, April 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Women Writers of the Middle Ages: A Critical Study of Texts from Perpetua to Marguerite Porete (Paperback)

I checked this book out to use as a resource for a paper I was doing on St. Perpetua. I ended up reading more from the other chapters than the one I was supposed to be studying. This book has a wealth of information about many notable Medieval women. The chapter on Hildegard von Bingen and Marguerite Porete are of especial interest. There are also original Latin and French texts included for those who enjoy using primary sources.