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Medieval Lives
Christine de Pizan: Life, Work, Legacy
The first popular biography of a pioneering feminist thinker and writer of medieval Paris.
The daughter of a court intellectual, Christine de Pizan dwelled within the cultural heart of late-medieval Paris. In the face of personal tragedy, she learned the tools of the book trade, writing more than forty works that included poetry, historical and political treatises, and defenses of women. In this new biography—the first written for a general audience—Charlotte Cooper-Davis discusses the life and work of this pioneering female thinker and writer. She shows how Christine de Pizan’s inspiration came from the world around her, situates her as an entrepreneur within the context of her times and place, and finally examines her influence on the most avant-garde of feminist artists, through whom she is slowly making a return into mainstream popular culture.
The daughter of a court intellectual, Christine de Pizan dwelled within the cultural heart of late-medieval Paris. In the face of personal tragedy, she learned the tools of the book trade, writing more than forty works that included poetry, historical and political treatises, and defenses of women. In this new biography—the first written for a general audience—Charlotte Cooper-Davis discusses the life and work of this pioneering female thinker and writer. She shows how Christine de Pizan’s inspiration came from the world around her, situates her as an entrepreneur within the context of her times and place, and finally examines her influence on the most avant-garde of feminist artists, through whom she is slowly making a return into mainstream popular culture.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published January 11, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 21, 2023
Overall a very good book. It's a decent introduction to Christine's body of work and the influence she continues to have on society. This is probably one of the more balanced books on her that I've read. The most effective sections were the ones discussing her pro-women views and her legacy and impact. Cooper-Davis does discuss her other ideas and books, but in a meandering manner. Those sections didn't quite work for me because I struggled to follow the line of thought. It felt more like a travelogue at times than a discussion of her body of work. I wish religion had actually been explored besides iconography used in her books. I'd also say that this is more an analysis of her development of materials rather than a biography. I will always prefer footnotes to end notes, and wish that the works cited pages, which are extensive and are also the end notes, had not also been end notes. That part could have been laid out in a more research friendly way.
May 22, 2022
I set this aside for a long time once I reached the final chapter about modern reactions to Christine's writings. I particularly enjoyed Cooper-Davis's description of Christine's Paris (with map) and Christine's involvement in the physical creation of her books as well as the authorial effort. I'd have liked more about that, but I'll look for articles by C-D in specialist journals.
It's driving me crazy that I cannot recall the name for the blue, red, and gold checkerboard that you see in 14th-c medieval French mss. I know I know it but cannot recall...
This was a whim purchase in March 2022 at Brookline Booksmith. My thanks to whichever staff member recommended its display. I've known about Reaction Books, but they've come up twice this spring (other example at Holbein exhibition-related materials in Morgan gift shop). I will have to look for others in the medieval lives series, which may only include Margery Kempe so far.
I remember reading Christine's writings in college and experiencing the same sense of encouragement and disappointment that other modern feminists feel.
C-D writes that Christine was born in Venice but her family from Pizzano, which is south of Bologna.
I have to look for the modern mysteries with Christine as the detective by Tania Bayard.
It's driving me crazy that I cannot recall the name for the blue, red, and gold checkerboard that you see in 14th-c medieval French mss. I know I know it but cannot recall...
This was a whim purchase in March 2022 at Brookline Booksmith. My thanks to whichever staff member recommended its display. I've known about Reaction Books, but they've come up twice this spring (other example at Holbein exhibition-related materials in Morgan gift shop). I will have to look for others in the medieval lives series, which may only include Margery Kempe so far.
I remember reading Christine's writings in college and experiencing the same sense of encouragement and disappointment that other modern feminists feel.
C-D writes that Christine was born in Venice but her family from Pizzano, which is south of Bologna.
I have to look for the modern mysteries with Christine as the detective by Tania Bayard.
November 29, 2021
I have to start this by being honest, I know the author and I get all my questions answered plus I was offered to pre-read a couple of the chapters in the writing stage...
That said I was a complete novice on the C de Pizan topic. Although I don't believe I could write an essay up to standard, I did enjoy this before and after publication. I feel that the author gave Christine (and I) due understanding and consideration into all aspects of her Life and Work. As to her Legacy, to be honest, I am very surprised at the French history and feminine forces (not to mention culture, art and the wider discussion of misogyny) that keeps on coming from her publications to this day, 600 years later. That shelf of authors is not so large.
Well done Charlotte (and Christine)!
That said I was a complete novice on the C de Pizan topic. Although I don't believe I could write an essay up to standard, I did enjoy this before and after publication. I feel that the author gave Christine (and I) due understanding and consideration into all aspects of her Life and Work. As to her Legacy, to be honest, I am very surprised at the French history and feminine forces (not to mention culture, art and the wider discussion of misogyny) that keeps on coming from her publications to this day, 600 years later. That shelf of authors is not so large.
Well done Charlotte (and Christine)!
September 8, 2025
The definitive modern biography on Christine de Pizan. A fast read for an introduction to the medieval world of Hundred Year's War Paris and the captivating proto-feminist, single-working mother, rubbing shoulders with the elite of her day. Cooper-Davis is comprehensive, engaging, and helps you place Christine, her work, and her world. Engrossing non-fiction on one of my favorite figures from history and a reference I've revisited time and time again.
January 30, 2022
This is an efficient read about the important works of French proto-feminist, Christine de Pizan. Charlotte Cooper-Davis writes about Christine de Pizan's contributions to art and literature, while also teaching the readers about medieval publishing and bookmaking.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews