Christine de Pizan and the Fight for France by Tracy Adams

Abstract

les spécialistes et les amateurs de cinéma, ainsi que ceux qui s’intéressent aux questions d’actualité politique et religieuse. Davidson College (NC) Caroline Beschea-Fache Literary History and Criticism edited by Marion Geiger Adams,Tracy. Christine de Pizan and the Fight for France.University Park: Pennsylvania State UP, 2014. ISBN 978-0-271-05071-3. Pp. xi + 220. $75. In this compelling study, Adams firmly situates Pizan’s texts in their historical context, exploring and documenting Pizan’s literary participation in the growing conflict between the Orleanists (or Armagnacs) and the Burgundians, including her efforts to delineate the concept of kingship in France. Adams convincingly demonstrates that while Pizan has long been regarded by historians and literary critics as politically neutral, in fact her writings clearly support the Orleanists. In chapter 1, Adams explains her rationale for reexamining the corpus of Pizan. She establishes the context for Pizan’s political writings: the seemingly endless and sometimes violent struggle for control of the French throne, in particular the ongoing feud between Louis of Orleans and Philip of Burgundy (and later Jean of Burgundy, Philip’s son and successor). Based on the poet’s comments in the autobiographical parts of her works, Adams argues that Pizan was an Orleanist sympathizer. Chapter 2 describes the beginnings of the rivalry between the dukes and lays a foundation for the argument that Pizan supported the regency of Louis of Orleans during the frequent episodes of madness suffered by his brother, King Charles VI. Adams reads Pizan’s love poetry as political commentary, demonstrating that the poet seeks to inspire in her readers respect and obedience toward rightful authority, and outrage toward those who defy it and attempt to undermine it. Chapter 3 analyzes a variety of narratorial strategies that Pizan developed in order to influence her readers’ perception of the worsening discord between the dukes, declaring and justifying her support for Louis. The poet simultaneously showcases her prudence and erudition, and positions herself as an influential political voice.As conflict between the dukes mounted, Pizan’s commentary reflected a corresponding increase in intensity and more clearly political aims. Chapter 4 analyzes Pizan’s works that defend Queen Isabeau’s regency and those that establish parallels between Louis of Orleans and his father, Charles V, while chapter 5 explores the poet’s writings that urge her readers to take action against the growing threat posed by Jean of Burgundy.As the dauphin (who would ultimately be crowned Charles VII) approached adulthood, France was still gravely beset by civil conflict; Pizan’s writings of this period sometimes promote peace, but more often justify violence, as Adams 204 FRENCH REVIEW 89.3 Reviews 205 establishes in chapter 6. Tracy Adams paints an enthralling picture of court life and the machinations of nobles vying for power and legitimate authority in late Medieval France. She makes Pizan come alive for her reader, not as a wise but neutral observer and chronicler, but as a participant in and shaper of deeply significant decisions and events. Not only will this book provoke“debate about Christine’s attitudes toward the Armagnac-Burgundian conflict”(10),as the author hopes,it will surely inspire renewed and vigorous study of the poetry of Christine de Pizan, and of this tumultuous period of French history. Saint Louis University Kathleen M. Llewellyn Bernard, Claudie. Le jeu des familles dans le roman du XIXe siècle. Saint-Étienne: PU de Saint-Étienne, 2013. ISBN 978-2-86272-645-8. Pp. 323. 25 a. Taking its title from the card game le jeu des sept familles, this volume explores the dynamics of ten fictional households in novels published between 1830 and 1900, a period of profound social transition in France during which, Bernard argues, the importance of maternal love and filial bonds begin to eclipse that of traditional paternal authority. Throughout the study, Bernard characterizes family groups according to their varying degrees of sameness (mêmeté), such as the extent to which they share physical space, genetic traits, or a last name; she also underscores their elements of difference (alterité), especially in relationships between men and women, where incest and same-sex unions are prohibited. The...