This week we will be reading from two female writers, rare for the time. We will concentrate the bulk of the discussion on Christine de Pisan, who was the first female writer to make a living and support herself and her family by writing. She was also a vocal feminist, denouncing the writers of a popular work, The Romance of the Rose, for the treatment of women. She was a prolific writer of letters, poetry and books and her name should be better known.
Readings for this week:
The Book of Margery Kempe Middle English Version (read as much as you wish to get a taste of the language. Difficult to follow at times.
The Birth of her First Child and her First Vision (translation)
Her Pride and Attempts to Start a First Business (translation)
Christine de Pisan:
Selections from her writing (This site offers a nice selection from a variety of her work)
The Book of Margery Kempe Middle English Version (read as much as you wish to get a taste of the language. Difficult to follow at times.
The Birth of her First Child and her First Vision (translation)
Her Pride and Attempts to Start a First Business (translation)
Christine de Pisan:
Selections from her writing (This site offers a nice selection from a variety of her work)