Description
Discover an intriguing exploration of women's roles in ancient and medieval narratives with 'Women at the Beginning.' Thoughtfully composed by Patrick Geary, this brand new trade paperback delves into four insightful essays examining how male authors portrayed women from antiquity to the twelfth century. Geary’s work highlights the often overlooked contributions of women in origin legends, revealing the tensions between mythical representations of figures like Eve, Mary, and Amazons, and the lived experiences of women in historical contexts. Each essay serves as a rich lens, illuminating the patriarchal structures that shaped these narratives and the ideologies of male authors who wrote them. Readers will appreciate Geary's nuanced analysis, as he skillfully intertwines the literary with historical realities, offering a compelling perspective on gender dynamics in literature. This book invites readers to reflect on the ambivalence faced by ancient authors regarding women's societal roles, an invaluable addition to feminist literature and historical studies. With ISBN 9780691171463, it is published by Princeton University Press in 2016. Note: Shipping for this item is free, and delivery may take up to 6 weeks. Once your order is placed, it cannot be canceled.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691171463
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2016
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
In these four artfully crafted essays, Patrick Geary explores the way ancient and medieval authors wrote about women. Geary describes the often marginal role women played in origin legends from antiquity until the twelfth century. Not confining himself to one religious tradition or region, he probes the tensions between women in biblical, classical, and medieval myths (such as Eve, Mary, Amazons, princesses, and countesses), and actual women in ancient and medieval societies. Using these legends as a lens through which to study patriarchal societies, Geary chooses moments and texts that illustrate how ancient authors (all of whom were male) confronted the place of women in their society. Unlike other books on the subject, Women at the Beginning attempts to understand not only the place of women in these legends, but also the ideologies of the men who wrote about them. The book concludes that the authors of these stories were themselves struggling with ambivalence about women in their own worlds and that this struggle manifested itself in their writings.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691171463
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2016
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
In these four artfully crafted essays, Patrick Geary explores the way ancient and medieval authors wrote about women. Geary describes the often marginal role women played in origin legends from antiquity until the twelfth century. Not confining himself to one religious tradition or region, he probes the tensions between women in biblical, classical, and medieval myths (such as Eve, Mary, Amazons, princesses, and countesses), and actual women in ancient and medieval societies. Using these legends as a lens through which to study patriarchal societies, Geary chooses moments and texts that illustrate how ancient authors (all of whom were male) confronted the place of women in their society. Unlike other books on the subject, Women at the Beginning attempts to understand not only the place of women in these legends, but also the ideologies of the men who wrote about them. The book concludes that the authors of these stories were themselves struggling with ambivalence about women in their own worlds and that this struggle manifested itself in their writings.