Christine de Pizan, The Book of the Cyte of Ladyes, trans. by Brian Anslay, ed. by Hope Johnston. Medieval and Renaissance Texts and Studies, 457. Tempe, AZ: Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, 2014, lxiv, 622 pp., 10 b/w ill.

Abstract

On the one hand, this new edition, or rather translation, of Christine de Pizan’s The Book of the City of Ladies (1405) certainly deserves to be reviewed in Mediaevistik because Christine still falls squarely into the late Middle Ages. On the other, the publication date of this translation, 1521, places it certainly outside of that period. However, a translation is always an important mirror of the reception history, which proves to be particularly rich in Christine’s case. Brian Anslay’s English translation was the first and only one to appear in print (by Henry Pepwell), at least before the twentieth century. However, we know of twenty-seven surviving manuscripts, whereas there are only five copies of Anslay’s printed work available. It is worth noting that the issues addressed here by Christine, helping women to find their own realm and identity, was apparently of significance also for her male audience since Anslay was sponsored by Richard Grey, third earl of Kent.