Episode Details

In this episode, we explore the remarkable life of Christine de Pizan (1364–c. 1430), an Italian-born writer who defied medieval conventions to become the first professional woman of letters in Europe. After losing her husband to the plague in 1389, Christine turned to writing to support her family, navigating the complex politics of the French royal court under King Charles VI,.

Join us as we discuss:

• A Feminist Pioneer: How Christine challenged the misogyny of her time, specifically attacking the popular Romance of the Rose for its depiction of women as mere seducers,.

• The City of Ladies: Her most famous works, The Book of the City of Ladies and The Treasure of the City of Ladies, which defended women’s contributions to society and offered advice on navigating the perils of 15th-century life,,.

• War and Politics: Her surprising role as a political theorist and military strategist, including the authorship of The Book of Feats of Arms and of Chivalry, a manual on warfare read by kings,.

• Enduring Legacy: From her final work celebrating Joan of Arc to her being honored with a statue at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, we examine how Christine’s voice continues to resonate today,.