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ninamanon's review against another edition
It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy this book; it just got really repetitive after a while, so much so that it felt like I was reading an outdated encyclopedia. But it was very interesting to read about women in history from the perspective of a medieval woman, and I’m glad I did read a part of this book.
rebcamuse's review
4.0
Christine de Pizan, writing in the year 1405, writes a treatise on feminist equality by way of a dialogue with personifications of Reason, Rectitude and Justice. These three "sisters" help Christine to edify and fortify her "City of Ladies" wherein women are able to celebrate their full potential, unhindered by the malevolent misogyny so prevalent to the time.
While Reason, Rectitude and Justice rattle off a laundry list of historical female exemplars, the real value of the treatise lies with Christine herself. While the Christine in the book plays the part of the virtuous, but naive, young woman, the subtext makes clear that Christine de Pizan is an intellectual force with which to be reckoned. She demonstrates a knowledge of literature, philosophy, and rhetoric that was inaccessible to many women of the time. If her argument fails in any sense, it is only in that she fails to address how women might rise above their station.
And while Christine focuses on negating the misogynistic assertions of other writers, her own feminist thought has its limits. She admits, through [b:the voice of Reason|1978|The Voice of Reason Essays in Objectivist Thought (The Ayn Rand Library, Vol V)|Ayn Rand|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159410932s/1978.jpg|6056], that it would "not be right for [women:] to abandon their customary modesty and to go about bringing cases before a court." It is, however, necessary for Christine to abandon her own modesty, which she does in several instances, particularly through self-referencing her earlier related works. The dialogue style enables her to do this without too much self-aggrandizement.
While none of the ideas contained within The City of Ladies will shock the 21st century western mind, the larger lesson on the power of the word is invaluable.
While Reason, Rectitude and Justice rattle off a laundry list of historical female exemplars, the real value of the treatise lies with Christine herself. While the Christine in the book plays the part of the virtuous, but naive, young woman, the subtext makes clear that Christine de Pizan is an intellectual force with which to be reckoned. She demonstrates a knowledge of literature, philosophy, and rhetoric that was inaccessible to many women of the time. If her argument fails in any sense, it is only in that she fails to address how women might rise above their station.
And while Christine focuses on negating the misogynistic assertions of other writers, her own feminist thought has its limits. She admits, through [b:the voice of Reason|1978|The Voice of Reason Essays in Objectivist Thought (The Ayn Rand Library, Vol V)|Ayn Rand|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1159410932s/1978.jpg|6056], that it would "not be right for [women:] to abandon their customary modesty and to go about bringing cases before a court." It is, however, necessary for Christine to abandon her own modesty, which she does in several instances, particularly through self-referencing her earlier related works. The dialogue style enables her to do this without too much self-aggrandizement.
While none of the ideas contained within The City of Ladies will shock the 21st century western mind, the larger lesson on the power of the word is invaluable.
abarbaramf's review against another edition
3.0
3,5. mulheres fizeram coisas, e nem todas foram devassas. moralidade, moralidade. interessante pela data de publicação.
dee9401's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting read that I was turned on to by a BBC 4 In Our Time podcast, which showed that there were strong woman’s voices present in the literature in the early 15th century. Why I never heard of Christine de Pizan before is a personal and structural embarrassment. Perhaps because there was a little proto-feminism in her writing, although tempered by the times social and religious strictures? Regardless, a work worth reading and keeping on your shelf for future reference. And, I must add, a great introduction and translation from Middle French by Rosalind Brown-Grant.
While laden with christian arrogance and some antisemitism, the book highlights many women throughout history, mythology and fiction who stand in stark contrast to the dominant male views of woman as weak, unintelligent, subversive, evil, cunning, shallow, etc. This book will serve as a great reference when encountering women in myth, fiction and history to see a different point of view of them. You will come across the Greek gods, Penelope and Odysseus, Achilles, Hektor, Dido, Aeneas, Ovid, Sappho (though sanitized and hetero-normalized), and many others.
While laden with christian arrogance and some antisemitism, the book highlights many women throughout history, mythology and fiction who stand in stark contrast to the dominant male views of woman as weak, unintelligent, subversive, evil, cunning, shallow, etc. This book will serve as a great reference when encountering women in myth, fiction and history to see a different point of view of them. You will come across the Greek gods, Penelope and Odysseus, Achilles, Hektor, Dido, Aeneas, Ovid, Sappho (though sanitized and hetero-normalized), and many others.
stjernesvarme's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
miilk_228's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely delightful. Let go of your anachronisms and dive into this piece of late mediaeval thought that remains terrifyingly- and somehow comfortingly- relevant to our days. The questions Christine asks her lady visitors- pleading them to contradict the misogynistic tradition around her- are ones that we still ask to this day as post modern feminists in a world with universal suffrage.
Alas, misogyny has remained the same in the past 617 years, but we as women have evolved. Our struggles are nothing but distant dreams for the women of old. Take courage in these tales of women who have, since the beginning of western civilization, stood in the face of adversity with patience and steadfastness. Let them put a spring in your steps as the relentless force of your foremothers pushes you onwards.
Alas, misogyny has remained the same in the past 617 years, but we as women have evolved. Our struggles are nothing but distant dreams for the women of old. Take courage in these tales of women who have, since the beginning of western civilization, stood in the face of adversity with patience and steadfastness. Let them put a spring in your steps as the relentless force of your foremothers pushes you onwards.
annagoldberg's review against another edition
5.0
I will be reviewing this book on my channel. I was fascinated by this medieval, proto-feminist text, and I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you!
davin_christensen's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book for a class at university. And this opened my mind to a lot of discussions towards how far feminism has come and the stories and woman and the legacies that should be more widely known. Overall one of the best books for the class.
bookishemzy's review against another edition
4.0
Ce roman a été rédigé au Moyen Âge et peut être considéré comme le premier ouvrage féministe. L’auteure rencontre trois femmes : Droiture, Raison et Justice. Ces dernières vont l’aider à réfléchir afin de bâtir la Cité des Dames. Les clichés sur les femmes de cette époque sont contestés les uns après les autres, en citant des exemples de femmes illustres de différents contes, de la mythologie, de l’histoire. Les auteurs et hommes qui accablent les femmes, notamment Ovide, voient leurs thèses et remarques sur les femmes démenties. C’est une lecture très intéressante, surtout lorsqu’on la replace dans son contexte historique.
mx_mistoffolees's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5