The Book of the City of Ladies

About “The Book of the City of Ladies”

The Book of the City of Ladies, or Le Livre de la Cité des Dames, is a book written by Christine de Pizan, believed to have been completed by 1405. It is her second lengthy prose work and her most famous. Written in French, it incorporates Latin-style syntax. The book was written as a response to Roman de la Rose by Jean de Meun. Pizan created an allegorical city of women to defend women against negative portrayals. She gathered famous women from history, using them as symbolic elements to build the city and support her argument. Each woman added to her thesis, emphasizing women's value in society. Pizan also promoted education for women. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)