Veronica Franco in Dialogue

Marilyn Migiel's Veronica Franco in Dialogue examines how Veronica Franco constructs her identity as author, lover, and sex worker in relation to an unknown male author in her literary work. It explores the moments of ambivalence, uncertainty, and indirectness in her poetry, as well as the polemicism and assertions of triumph, and asks readers to consider their ideological investments in the stories we tell about early modern female authors and their cultural production.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2022
Publisher: University of Toronto Press

Since the late twentieth century, the Venetian courtesan Veronica Franco has been revered as a pioneering feminist icon. She celebrated her sexuality, championed the value of women, and made significant contributions to intellectual and cultural life in sixteenth-century Venice. In her book, Veronica Franco in Dialogue, Marilyn Migiel delves into Franco's rhetorical strategies by closely examining her literary works. Migiel focuses on the first fourteen poems in the Terze rime, a collection of Franco's poems published in 1575. By analyzing the back-and-forth exchanges between Franco and an unknown male author, Migiel aims to understand how Franco constructs her identity as an author, lover, and sex worker in relation to this unknown male author.

Veronica Franco in Dialogue explores the moments of ambivalence, uncertainty, and indirectness in Franco's poetry, as well as the polemicism and assertions of triumph. It prompts readers to reflect on their ideological investments in the stories we tell about early modern female authors and their cultural production. Through a nuanced analysis of Franco's rhetorical strategies, Migiel sheds light on the complexities of her poetic voice and the ways in which she challenged societal norms and expectations.

Veronica Franco's legacy as a feminist icon continues to be celebrated and studied today. Her ability to embrace her sexuality, challenge gender norms, and make meaningful contributions to literature and culture has inspired generations of women and men. Migiel's book provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of Franco's life and work, and it encourages us to continue exploring the complexities of early modern female authors and their cultural contributions.

Weight: 420g
Dimension: 235 x 159 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781487542580