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The Other Voice in Early Modern Europe: The Chicago Series
Collected Letters of a Renaissance Feminist
Renaissance writer Laura Cereta (1469–1499) presents feminist issues in a predominantly male venue—the humanist autobiography in the form of personal letters. Cereta's works circulated widely in Italy during the early modern era, but her complete letters have never before been published in English. In her public lectures and essays, Cereta explores the history of women's contributions to the intellectual and political life of Europe. She argues against the slavery of women in marriage and for the rights of women to higher education, the same issues that have occupied feminist thinkers of later centuries.
Yet these letters also furnish a detailed portrait of an early modern woman’s private experience, for Cereta addressed many letters to a close circle of family and friends, discussing highly personal concerns such as her difficult relationships with her mother and her husband. Taken together, these letters are a testament both to an individual woman and to enduring feminist concerns.
Yet these letters also furnish a detailed portrait of an early modern woman’s private experience, for Cereta addressed many letters to a close circle of family and friends, discussing highly personal concerns such as her difficult relationships with her mother and her husband. Taken together, these letters are a testament both to an individual woman and to enduring feminist concerns.
244 pages, Hardcover
First published June 8, 1997
About the author
Laura Cereta
2 books6 followersLaura Cereta (1469–1499) was a Renaissance humanist and feminist. Most of her writing was in the form of letters to other intellectuals.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 3, 2017
4.5 Stars
November 13, 2018
Great collection of letters, as well as an informative look at the life of Laura Cereta.
December 4, 2015
I liked the collection, though I think it would not be completely correct to call Cereta a feminist. She was definitely for women's issues, but she really did not fight against the system of patriarchy in the sense that feminism does today.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews