<i>The Boke of the Cyte of Ladyes </i>(1521) represents the earliest surviving English translation of Christine de Pizan’s <i>Le Livre de la cite des dames </i>(1405) and, perhaps more remarkably, the first time that the work was printed in France or England. It is presented here in parallel with the Middle French version of the <i>Cité</i> found in London British Library Royal MS 19.A.XIX, which shares structural similarities and provenance with the translation. Annotations identify names, places and allusions, as well as differences between the English and French texts that might potentially be of interest to the modern reader. Introductory chapters offer several contexts for approaching the work. Some critics have argued that the book’s male translator, printer and patron constrain the voice of its female author, but chapter one offers a reassessment of the <i>Cyte</i> as a profeminine endeavour that is largely consistent with Christine’s goals. Chapter two provides additional information about the translator, Brian Annesley, and considers the contemporary political circumstances of the book’s publication in England. Chapter three shifts from the work’s historical relevance to the history of the book. Particular attention is given to its printer, Henry Pepwell, and how the work stands out as the most ambitious project of his brief publishing career. Collectively, the introductory chapters and annotations aim to facilitate future scholarly study of the <i>Cyte.</i>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:605660 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Johnston, H. W. |
| Publisher | University of Cambridge |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Page generated in 0.0142 seconds