Includes bibliographical references (pages 225-235) and index.
Contents:
Introduction -- Devotional Texts for Royal Princesses in Late Medieval Bohemia -- Writing Jews, Writing Women: "The Prioress's Tale" and the Sacred Drama of Medieval Europe -- The Lady as Saint: "The Second Nun's Tale," Pearl, and the Czech Life of Saint Catherine of Alexandria -- Dangerous Amazons: Sexual and Textual Rivalry in "The Knight's Tale" and The Dalimil Chronicle -- Powerful Wives and Captive Knights: "The Wife of Bath's Tale," Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and the Czech Chivalric Romances -- Women Defended, Women Defamed: The Legend of Good Women, The Plowman from Bohemia, and The Little Weaver -- Conclusion.
Summary:
"Critics have traditionally emphasized Geoffrey Chaucer's status as the "Father of English Literature" but in his own time he was more interested in becoming a great European writer. This book shows how Chaucer looked for inspiration not only to the great European male writers of his time (Boccaccio, Petrarch, Dante) but also to a European woman--Queen Anne of Bohemia, wife of Richard II-- as his ideal patron and inspiration" -- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.