Women of the Twelfth Century, Volume 1: Eleanor of Aquitaine and Six Others

by Georges Duby, Jean Birrell

Overview

In this volume, Georges Duby examines the lives of prominent twelfth-century French women as well as popular female literary figures of that time. Focusing on medieval notions of women and love, Duby looks for the ideological motivations for the representation of the female sex. He analyzes the ways in which women's biographies were written and how female characters were treated in fable and legend, pointing to the social and political forces at work in these representations.

The historical personages include Eleanor of Aquitaine whose several marriages brought her wealth and autonomy; the virtuous Héloïse; and the visionary recluse Juette. Duby also studies the literary figures of St. Marie-Madeleine, a composite figure who personified the essential female traits of frailty, ardent love, and evangelicalism; Iseut, literary beloved of Tristan; and two other emblematic figures, Dorée d'Amour and Phénix—women who became ladies through chivalrous love.

Provocative, informative, and entertaining, this book offers new insight on courtly love and the representations of women under medieval patriarchy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780226167763
Publisher:	University of Chicago Press
Publication date:	11/24/1997
Series:	Heritage of Sociology Series
Edition description:	1
Pages:	110
Product dimensions:	5.75(w) x 7.62(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Georges Duby (1919-1996) was a member of the Académie française and for many years held the distinguished chair in medieval history at the Collège de France. His books include Women of the Twelfth Century, Volume One: Eleanor of Aquitaine & Six Others; Women of the Twelfth Century, Volume Two: Remembering the Dead; The Three orders; The Age of Cathedrals; The Knight, the Lady, and the Priest; Love and Marriage in the Middle Ages; and History Continues, all published by the University of Chicago Press.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Eleanor
2. Mary Magdalen
3. Héloïse
4. Iseult
5. Juette
6. Soredamors and Fenice
Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

Reflects on women as they were portrayed in 12th-century French writing. In addition to Eleanor, considers Mary Magdalene, H<'e>lo<:i>se, Iseult, Juette, and Soredamors and Fenice. The late Duby was a member of the French Academy and wrote extensively on the Middle Ages. cle, H<'e>lo<:i>se, Ali<'e>nor, Iseut, et quelques autres/>, from which the current volume was translated, was published in 1995 by <'E>ditions Gallimard. No index or bibliography. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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