Against Marriage (Paperback)

In seventeenth-century France, aristocratic women were valued by their families as commodities to be married off in exchange for money, social advantage, or military alliance. Once married, they became legally subservient to their husbands. The duchesse de Montpensier--a first cousin of Louis XIV--was one of very few exceptions, thanks to the vast wealth she inherited from her mother, who died shortly after Montpensier was born. She was also one of the few politically powerful women in France at the time to have been an accomplished writer.
In the daring letters presented in this bilingual edition, Montpensier condemns the alliance system of marriage, proposing instead to found a republic that she would govern, "a corner of the world in which . . . women are their own mistresses," and where marriage and even courtship would be outlawed. Her pastoral utopia would provide medical care and vocational training for the poor, and all the homes would have libraries and studies, so that each woman would have a "room of her own" in which to write books.
Joan DeJean's lively introduction and accessible translation of Montpensier's letters--four previously unpublished--allow us unprecedented access to the courageous voice of this extraordinary woman.

General

Imprint:	University of Chicago Press
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	December 2002
First published:	December 2002
Authors:	Duchesse de Montpensier d'Orleans
Dimensions:	155 x 231 x 14mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	115
ISBN-13:	978-0-226-53492-3
Categories:	Books > Language & Literature > Literature: texts > Essays, journals, letters & other prose works > General Books > Humanities > History > World history > 1500 to 1750 Books > Humanities > History > European history > General Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Gender studies > Women's studies > General Books > History > European history > General Books > History > World history > 1500 to 1750
LSN:	0-226-53492-8
Barcode:	9780226534923

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!