Collected Letters of a Renaissance Feminist (The Other Voice in Early Modern Europe)

Publisher description: Renaissance writer Laura Cereta (1469-1499) presents feminist issues in a predominantly male venue--the humanist autobiography in the form of personal letters. Cereta's works circulated widely in Italy during the early modern era, but her complete letters have never before been published in English. In her public lectures and essays, Cereta explores the history of women's contributions to the intellectual and political life of Europe. She argues against the slavery of women in marriage and for the rights of women to higher education, the same issues that have occupied feminist thinkers of later centuries. Yet these letters also furnish a detailed portrait of an early modern woman's private experience, for Cereta addressed many letters to a close circle of family and friends, discussing highly personal concerns such as her difficult relationships with her mother and her husband. Taken together, these letters are a testament both to an individual woman and to enduring feminist concerns Renaissance writer Laura Cereta (1469-1499) presents feminist issues in a predominantly male venue -- the humanist autobiography in the form of personal letters. Cereta's works circulated widely in Italy during the early modern era, but her complete letters have never before been published in English. In her public lectures and essays, Cetera explores the history of women's contributions to the intellectual and political life of Europe. She argues against tile slavery of women in marriage and for the rights of women to higher education, the same issues that have occupied feminist thinkers of later centuries.Yet these letters also furnish a detailed portrait of an early modern woman's private experience, for Cereta addressed many letters to a close circle of family and friends, discussing highly personal concerns such as her difficult relationships with her mother and her husband. Taken together, these letters are a testament both to an individual woman and to enduring feminist concerns. 1. Autobiography -- 2. Women And Society -- 3. Marriage And Mourning -- 4. Woman To Woman -- 5. The Public Lectures -- 6. Dialogue On The Death Of An Ass. Transcribed, Translated, And Edited By Diana Robin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [203]-209) And Index. Translated From Latin. CONTENTS 6 Introduction to the Series 8 Acknowledgments 28 Translator’s Introduction 32 ONE Autobiography 49 TWO Women and Society 92 THREE Marriage and Mourning 116 FOUR Woman to Woman 143 FIVE The Public Lectures 180 SIX Dialogue on the Death of an Ass 209 Bibliography 232 Index 240