Crossing the Bridge: Comparative Essays on Medieval European and Heian Japanese Women Writers

The New Middle Ages

by Barbara Stevenson (Editor), Cynthia Ho (Editor)

The essays in this collection suggest the similar, and also strikingly dissimilar, strategies of women working within medieval courtly cultures to mitigate traditional patriarchal constraints. Many of the works and authors focus on the courtly aspects of medieval European and Heian culture in which art, literature, and love are the highest pursuits. For both, living is itself art. It supplies instructors and students of world literature, women’s studies, and medieval literature with essential, useful analysis in an area that previously has been the territory of specialists.

Genres: Medieval

234 pages, Hardcover

Published November 4, 2000

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ought to be more books like this, comparing aspects of courtly culture, east and west. Not entirely successful but a worthy effort. Recommended to anyone with an interest in the field.