POLITICS, GENDER, AND GENRE [electronic resource] : THE POLITICAL THOUGHT OF CHRISTINE DE PIZAN

Christine de Pizan (ca. 1364-1429) wrote more than twenty books, including poetry, defenses of women, critiques of war, Utopian visions, and general political and social commentary. This body of writing not only supported her during her lifetime but also brought her fame, patronage, and influence in high places. The revival of interest in her work is one of the major successes in the movement to recognize "lost" or overlooked women in the history of intellectual thought. Her courageous defense of women makes her, in the eyes of most, a protofeminist figure, and the depth of her feminism is one of the key issues debated in these essays by the world's leading Christine scholars. Other important topics are Christine's contribution to early humanist thought and the various ways in which her unique position sheds light on medieval politics and society. This book is a valuable contribution to medieval studies and political theory as well as to the history of feminist thought. It will be essential reading for philosophers and political scientists and for medievalists in any discipline. Introduction / Jean Bethke Elshtain -- The Political Significance Of Christine De Pizan / Eric Hicks -- Christine De Pizan: From Poet To Political Commentator / Charity Cannon Willard -- Polycracy, Obligation, And Revolt: The Body Politic In John Of Salisbury And Christine De Pizan / Kate Langdon Forhan -- Christine De Pizan And The Jews: Political And Poetic Implications / Nadia Margolis -- French Cultural Nationalism And Christian Universalism In The Works Of Christine De Pizan / Earl Jeffrey Richards -- L'avision Christine: Autobiographical Narrative Or Mirror For The Prince? / Rosalind Brown-grant -- Vox Femina, Vox Politica: The Lamentacion Sur Les Maux De La France / Margarete Zimmermann -- Authority In The Prose Treatises Of Christine De Pizan: The Writer's Discourse And The Prince's Word / Liliane Dulac -- The Political Rhetoric Of Christine De Pizan: Lamentacion Sur Les Maux De La Guerre Civile / Linda Leppig -- The Subversive Seulette / Mary Mckinley -- Christine De Pizan: At Best A Contradictory Figure? / Christine M. Reno -- History, Politics, And Christine Studies: A Pollemical Reply / Sheila Delany -- Identity And Differences In Christine De Pizan's Cite Des Dames / Margaret Brabant And Michael Brint. Edited By Margaret Brabant. Spine Title: Politics, Gender & Genre. Outgrowth Of An International Conference On The Political Thought Of Christine De Pizan, Held At The University Of Virginia, On Oct. 20, 1989. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [223]-226) And Index. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 1 Introduction 10 2 The Political Significance of Christine de Pizan 16 3 Christine de Pizan: From Poet to Political Commentator 26 4 Polycracy, Obligation, and Revolt: The Body Politic in John of Salisbury and Christine de Pizan 42 5 Christine de Pizan and the Jews: Political and Poetic Implications 62 6 French Cultural Nationalism and Christian Universalism in the Works of Christine de Pizan 84 7 L'Avision Christine: Autobiographical Narrative or Mirror for the Prince? 104 8 Vox Femina, Vox Politica: The Lamentation sur les maux de la France 122 9 Authority in the Prose Treatises of Christine de Pizan: The Writer's Discourse and the Prince's Word 138 10 The Political Rhetoric of Christine de Pizan: Lamentation sur les maux de la guerre civile 150 11 The Subversive "Seulette" 166 12 Christine de Pizan: "At Best a Contradictory Figure"? 180 13 History, Politics, and Christine Studies: A Polemical Reply 202 14 Identity and Difference in Christine de Pizan's Cité des Dames 216 Selected Bibliography 232 About the Book and Editor 236 About the Contributors 238 Index 242 These essays debate the depth of Christine de Pizan's feminism, her contribution to early humanist thought and the ways in which her position sheds light on medieval politics and society.