The Genealogy of Women: Studies in Boccaccio's De Mulieribus Claris (Studies in the Humanities (New York, N.Y.), V. 62.)

Composed in the 1360s, Boccaccio’s De mulieribus claris (Famous Women) was the first attempt at female biography in the history of post-classical Western literature. However, its humanistic credentials coexist uneasily with the remnants of medieval misogyny. This book-the first full-length study of De mulieribus claris in English-argues that it is essential to take into account the ideological complexities of early humanism confronted with the "woman question." It seeks to unravel the difficulties of the text, looking at its genesis, sources, relations to other writings-including Boccaccio’s vernacular works-its political dimensions, and its structure and methodology, to shed light on Boccaccio the humanist rewriting and rethinking his previous attitudes toward women. Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 List of Abbreviations......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 I. Shaping the Text: Formation of the De mulieribus claris......Page 30 II. Boccaccio the Humanist......Page 52 III. Constructing Discourses: Medieval Patterns and Christian Models......Page 72 IV. Fallen Women, Fallen Texts: From the De casibus to the De mulieribus......Page 88 V. Vulgar Women: Boccaccio's Vernacular Writing and the De mulieribus......Page 104 VI. The Dangers of Dedication: De mulieribus claris and Contemporary Politics......Page 122 VII. Creating Lives: The Forms of Female Biography......Page 138 VIII. In the Family/Out the House: Women in Public......Page 156 Conclusion......Page 182 Notes......Page 194 Bibliography......Page 238 A......Page 260 C......Page 261 E......Page 262 H......Page 263 M......Page 264 P......Page 265 S......Page 266 Z......Page 267 Annotation Composed in the 1360s, Boccaccio's De mulieribus claris (Famous Women) was the first attempt at female biography in the history of post-classical Western literature. However, its humanistic credentials coexist uneasily with the remnants of medieval misogyny. This book - the first full-lenght study of De mulieribus claris in English - argues that it is essential to take into account the ideological complexities of early humanism confronted with the " woman question. It seeks to unravel the difficulties of the text, looking at its genesis, sources, relations to other writings - including Boccaccio's vernacular works - its political dimensions, and its structure and methodology, to shed light on Boccaccio the humanist rewriting and rethinking his previous attitudes toward women Composed in the 1360s, Boccaccios De mulieribus claris (Famous Women) was the first attempt at female biography in the history of post-classical Western literature. However, its humanistic credentials coexist uneasily with the remnants of medieval misogyny. This book the first full-length study of De mulieribus claris in English argues that it is essential to take into account the ideological complexities of early humanism confronted with the woman question. It seeks to unravel the difficulties of the text, looking at its genesis, sources, relations to other writings including Boccaccios vernacular works its political dimensions, and its structure and methodology, to shed light on Boccaccio the humanist rewriting and rethinking his previous attitudes toward women.