Christine de Pizan (c. 1364 - 1430) was one of the most influential writers and commentators of medieval France during the turn of the fifteenth century. She wrote on politics and society and we would consider her a feminist of her day, as she wrote several works advocating for women of all classes--sort of. She wrote on inspiring women in her own time period, in history, and mythology.
Christine was well-connected and knew the French royal family personally. She was commissioned by kings, queens, dukes, and other important personages throughout France and Europe to write for them. She is unequivocally the most influential woman writer of her day, and is generally considered the first woman in European history to make her profession from writing.
*Apologies for the audio issues in the final 12 minutes of the episode. We tried to fix them as best we could.
1:22 Jackie Intro
1:58 Who was Christine?
2:33 “She is unequivocally the most influential writer of her day”
3:05 History according to AI
4:51 Christine’s parents and childhood
8:11 Before the Louvre was a sprawling museum it was a medieval castle!
9:13 More about Christine’s childhood
10:30 Christine’s marriage
12:36 Christine’s husband and children
13:06 “Marriage is the ideal state between men and women as long as men treat their wives as perfect companions”
14:00 Tragedy and hardship
16:59 Christine’s widowhood
17:31 “Grief is the same throughout the ages”
24:21 Christine becomes a writer
28:19 Becoming a voice for women
29:55 Chivalry
33:10 Christine as royal biographer
35:37 A work of self-reflection
37:53 Christine as a political commentator
41:25 “The Book of the City of Ladies”
43:16 “The Treasure of the City of Ladies”
46:55 Christine’s book on warfare
52:56 Christine’s retirement
54:30 Christine’s accounts of Joan of Arc
57:00 BibliographyThe Order of the Rose: The Life & Ideas of Christine de Pizan by Enid McLeod
The Book of the City of Ladies by Christine de Pizan
The Treasure of the City of Ladies by Christine de Pizan
Christine's other works may be a bit more difficult to find in print, but should be available in university libraries. Check out https://worldcat.org/
The Book of Deeds and Arms of Chivalry by Christine de Pizan
The Book of Deeds and Good Morals of the Wise King Charles V by Christine de Pizan
The Book of Peace by Christine de Pizan
The Book of the Body Politic by Christine de Pizan
Please like, subscribe, and leave us a review!
