The Honest Courtesan: Veronica Franco, Citizen and Writer in Sixteenth-Century Venice (Women in Culture and Society Series)

The Venetian courtesan has long captured the imagination as a female symbol of sexual license, elegance, beauty, and unruliness. What then to make of the cortigiana onesta the honest courtesan who recast virtue as intellectual integrity and offered wit and refinement in return for patronage and a place in public life? Veronica Franco (15461591) was such a woman, a writer and citizen of Venice, whose published poems and familiar letters offer rich testimony to the complexity of the honest courtesan's position. Margaret F. Rosenthal draws a compelling portrait of Veronica Franco in her cultural, social, and economic world. Rosenthal reveals in Franco's writing a passionate support of defenseless women, strong convictions about inequality, and, in the eroticized language of her epistolary verses, the seductive political nature of all poetic contests. It is Veronica Franco's insight into the power conflicts between men and womenand her awareness of the threat she posed to her male contemporariesthat makes her literary works and her dealings with Venetian intellectuals so pertinent today. Combining the resources of biography, history, literary theory, and cultural criticism, this sophisticated interdisciplinary work presents an eloquent and often moving account of one woman's life as an act of self-creation and as a complex response to social forces and cultural conditions. "A book . . . pleasurably redolent of Venice in the 16th-century. Rosenthal gives a vivid sense of a world of salons and coteries, of intricate networks of family and patronage, and of literary exchanges both intellectual and erotic." Helen Hackett, Times Higher Education Supplement The Honest Courtesan is the basis for the film Dangerous Beauty (1998) directed by Marshall Herskovitz. (The film was re-titled The Honest Courtesan for release in the UK and Europe in 1999.)

The Venetian courtesan has long captured the imagination as a female symbol of sexual license, elegance, beauty, and unruliness. What then to make of the cortigiana onesta—the honest courtesan who recast virtue as intellectual integrity and offered wit and refinement in return for patronage and a place in public life? Veronica Franco (1546-1591) was such a woman, a writer and citizen of Venice, whose published poems and familiar letters offer rich testimony to the complexity of the honest courtesan's position.

Margaret F. Rosenthal draws a compelling portrait of Veronica Franco in her cultural social, and economic world. Rosenthal reveals in Franco's writing a passionate support of defenseless women, strong convictions about inequality, and, in the eroticized language of her epistolary verses, the seductive political nature of all poetic contests. It is Veronica Franco's insight into the power conflicts between men and women—and her awareness of the threat she posed to her male contemporaries—that makes her literary works and her dealings with Venetian intellectuals so pertinent today.

Combining the resources of biography, history, literary theory, and cultural criticism, this sophisticated interdisciplinary work presents an eloquent and often moving account of one woman's life as an act of self-creation and as a complex response to social forces and cultural conditions.

"A book . . . pleasurably redolent of Venice in the 16th-century. Rosenthal gives a vivid sense of a world of salons and coteries, of intricate networks of family and patronage, and of literary exchanges both intellectual and erotic."—Helen Hackett, TimesHigher Education Supplement

The Honest Courtesan is the basis for the film Dangerous Beauty (1998) directed by Marshall Herskovitz. (The film was re-titled The Honest Courtesan for release in the UK and Europe in 1999.)

The Venetian Courtesan Has Long Captured The Imagination As A Female Symbol Of Sexual License, Elegance, Beauty, And Unruliness. What Then To Make Of The Cortigiana Onesta--the Honest Courtesan Who Recast Virtue As Intellectual Integrity And Offered Wit And Refinement In Return For Patronage And A Place In Public Life? Veronica Franco (1546-1591) Was Such A Woman, A Writer And Citizen Of Venice, Whose Published Poems And Familiar Letters Offer Rich Testimony To The Complexity Of The Honest Courtesan's Position. Margaret F. Rosenthal Draws A Compelling Portrait Of Veronica Franco In Her Cultural Social, And Economic World. Rosenthal Reveals In Franco's Writing A Passionate Support Of Defenseless Women, Strong Convictions About Inequality, And, In The Eroticized Language Of Her Epistolary Verses, The Seductive Political Nature Of All Poetic Contests. It Is Veronica Franco's Insight Into The Power Conflicts Between Men And Women--and Her Awareness Of The Threat She Posed To Her Male Contemporaries--that Makes Her Literary Works And Her Dealings With Venetian Intellectuals So Pertinent Today. Combining The Resources Of Biography, History, Literary Theory, And Cultural Criticism, This Sophisticated Interdisciplinary Work Presents An Eloquent And Often Moving Account Of One Woman's Life As An Act Of Self-creation And As A Complex Response To Social Forces And Cultural Conditions.--publisher Description. Foreword / Catharine R. Stimpson -- 1. Satirizing The Courtesan: Franco's Enemies -- 2. Fashioning The Honest Courtesan: Franco's Patrons -- Appendix: Two Testaments And A Tax Report -- 3. Addressing Venice: Franco's Familiar Letters -- 4. Denouncing The Courtesan: Franco's Inquisition Trial And Poetic Debate -- Appendix: Documents Of The Inquisition -- 5. The Courtesan In Exile: An Elegiac Future. Margaret F. Rosenthal. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 349-376) And Index. Copyright Title Page Series Page Contents Foreword by Catharine R. Stimpson Acknowledgments Dedication Introduction 1. Satirizing the Courtesan: Franco’s Enemies 2. Fashioning the Honest Courtesan: Franco’s Patrons Appendix: Two Testaments and a Tax Report 3. Addressing Venice: Franco’s Familiar Letters 4. Denouncing the Courtesan: Franco’s Inquisition Trial and Poetic Debate Appendix: Documents of the Inquisition 5. The Courtesan in Exile: An Elegiac Future Notes Works Cited Index Illustrations Veronica Franco (1546-1591) was an honest courtesan, a woman who recast virtue as intellectual integrity and offered wit and refinement in return for patronage and a place in public life. Combining biography, history, and cultural criticism, this sophisticated book presents an eloquent and moving account of one woman's life as an act of self-creation.