Extraordinary Women of the Medieval and Renaissance World
A Biographical Dictionary
Jo Carney author Debra Barrett-Graves author Gwynne Kennedy author Carole Levin author W M Spellman author Stephanie Witham author
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
Profiles biographical information for 70 extraordinary women of the medieval and Renaissance world
They include artists, builders, mystics, political leaders, religious activists, diarists and dramatists, poets and writers, and scholars.
In a world where women were taught to prefer silence to speech and self-expression, and where an assertive woman was considered an abnormal one, these women did speak out and assert themselves.
Aside from a few famous queens, warriors and religious leaders, little information is available about the many extraordinary women of the medieval and Renaissance world. This resource brings together engagingly written biographical profiles of 70 women, most of whom are unsung, but all of whom are remarkable for their courage, initiative, and accomplishments in a world where the conventional wisdom was for women to be chaste, silent, and obedient. The women profiled here represent 18 countries and excelled in 19 fields of endeavor. They include artists, builders, mystics, political leaders, religious activists, diarists and dramatists, poets and writers, and scholars. In a world where women were taught to prefer silence to speech and self-expression, and where an assertive woman was considered an abnormal one, these women did speak out and assert themselves. This often required the courage to refute the moral dictates of the time, to put themselves at risk for their beliefs, or to take political power for themselves. Some women succeeded and some were destroyed in their efforts. These profiles, prepared by specialists in women's history, are based on the latest scholarship and offer a wealth of information not available elsewhere. Each profile features biographical data, an engagingly written biographical essay that discusses the woman's life in the context of her society, and bibliographic sources for further research. This work makes the lives of these extraordinary women accessible to the wide audience of students and interested readers and is ideal for student research.For undergraduate collections. * Choice *
This volume offers an improtant starting place for students and scholars committed to research that enhances the visibility and recognizes the dignificant cultural contributions of medieval and Rennaissance women. Students especially will find this to be an indispensable and enlightening resource. . . . Extraordinary Women of the Medieval and Renaissance World offers a unique and valuable resource for the students interested in women's history. This is a collection of bibliographies designed not only to inform, but also to spur readers on to further investigations. * Medieval & Rennaissance Drama in England *
Recommended for public, high school, and undergraduate libraries. * Reference & User Services Quarterly *
Because it expands the information available on women who are often just mentioned in passing in historical works, this volume is interesting for both browsing and research. . . . [A]ppropriate for academic and public libraries with collections on women's or medieval and Renaissance studies, although its writing style would appeal to a high-school audience as well. * Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin *
This reference is unique both in its choice of subjects and in its chronological coverage. While most of these names would not appear in standard secondary text books, it is important for students to realize that women of influence could and did have an impact on society. . . . Recommended. * The Book Report *
[I]nteresting reading in any library, but also a handy reference in school and academic collections supporting medieval, renaissance and women's studies. * The GaleGroup *
[A]n excellent source of biographical information on lesser-known medieval and renaissance women and their times. It is suitable for any public or high school library where women's biographies are in demand. * ARBA *
This volume can be classified as a reference book, but it can also fit under the rather informal category of a very good read. * VOYA *
- Winner of University of Nebraska Humanities Center, Annual Research and Creative Achieveme 2000
ISBN: 9780313306594
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 652g
352 pages