The Book of the City of Ladies (1405)

A fifteenth proto-feminist tretise that women's virtue and capacity for learning is equal to men's, largely told through examples from Christian and Classical history. Anybody who is planning to write a work of historical fiction or fantasy in a world similar to Renaissance Europe with feminist heroines would do well to take Christine de Pizan in an example in how to make a character seem believably a product of her time rather than of the twenty-first century. ( )

A medieval statement that women’s virtue and intelligence is equal with men’s, written by a 15th century French noble lady.

Christine dePizan was a young, educated widow when she wrote one of the first documents praising women and declaring their ability to live and even rule wisely. In her account, she is visited in her study by three “Ladies” sent by God to advise her. Reason, Rectitude and Justice who have come to help her build a “City of Ladies” where virtuous women may take refuge. When Christine questions Reason about the awful statements that men make about women, Reason explains that such attacks are misguided and erroneous. Using examples of women from the sometimes mythical past, she affirms that women can be just as virtuous and wise as men. Reason explains that women were created by God as men’s essential equal. Rectitude offers her examples of the ways in which women have aided their husbands. Justice welcomes the Virgin Mary to preside over the completed City.

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http://mdbrady.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/the-city-of-ladies-by-christine-de-pizan...

I like Christine de Pizan -- she resonates with me, and strikes me as a woman with a very clear voice and definite confidence. What's really interesting is, she's extremely defiant, but somewhat passive-aggressively so...always apparently demurring and humbling herself, yeah, but at the same time, totally (and freely) re-interpreting basically all of history and literature in favor of all the Ladies out there. I mean, she's talking to these goddesses like Boethius talks to Philosophy. She puts herself right at the center of the stage, for to later enlighten women. I don't know how else to say it: She has guts. And she's really, really bright and well-educated. Maybe I'm just a nerd, but I consider her a role model for young women. ( )

Ladies, ladies! Christine de Pizan, in the 15th century, gives courtly advice, and its rather good, up to date, interesting. Her mere existence as a writer is testimony to her courtly skills. ( )

reading 'The city of ladies' is very much like having blue balls. ie comical torture. the book is ultimately Christine de Pizan's pity party. I dig her, don't get me wrong and I understand the relevance of the book for the feminine movement however I feel like instead of slandering men and going on and on about 'how this woman did this' and 'this woman did that' Christine should take a more psychological look at it, and not rely on God, and the three mystery ladies she makes up: Reason, Rectitude, and that other one. it's kind of an odd approach to have god justify the reason women reign supreme, don't ya think? I totally see where she's coming from and I know I seem like a chauvinist for going against her yadda yadda I just think the fantasy fairy tell ga ga isn't really the way to go about it. but hey this was written a long time ago. gotta give it her for getting some cred back in the day...
SO GLAD TO BE DONE WITH THIS! OMG. the last page was hillarious too. THe City of Ladies (ie the utopia of Christine's fair lady society! triumph! religion! just! rationality! logic! crazy gurl!) ( )