Women and the Circulation of Texts in Renaissance Italy

During the Italian Renaissance, laywomen and nuns actively participated in the circulation of texts, publishing their own works, promoting the publication of others, copying manuscripts, and collaborating with men in the production and sale of printed books. This study highlights the significant social function of books in shaping women's lives and sustaining their social and spiritual communities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 297 pages
Publication date: 02 February 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

During the Italian Renaissance, laywomen and nuns played a significant role in the circulation of various types of texts, both old and new, learned and popular. This groundbreaking study offers the first comprehensive and integrated analysis of Italian women's involvement in the material textual culture of the period. It reveals how they could publish their own works in manuscript and print, actively promoting the first publication of works by others. Through their roles as patrons or dedicatees, they played a crucial role in facilitating the dissemination of knowledge and ideas. The study also explores how women engaged in manuscript copying, collaborated with men in the production and sale of printed books, received books as gifts, borrowed or purchased them, commissioned manuscripts for personal use, and occasionally attended spoken or sung performances.

Brian Richardson's meticulously documented research underscores the profound social significance of books during the Renaissance. Texts, in motion, played a vital role in shaping women's lives and sustaining their social and spiritual communities. Richardson's study provides valuable insights into the multifaceted ways in which women interacted with literature and contributed to the intellectual and cultural landscape of the Renaissance.

In conclusion, the study of Italian women's involvement in the material textual culture of the Renaissance offers a rich and nuanced understanding of their roles and contributions to the intellectual and cultural life of the period. It highlights the significant impact of books on shaping women's lives and sustaining their social and spiritual communities, and sheds light on the complex and multifaceted ways in which women engaged with literature and contributed to the broader cultural landscape of the Renaissance.

ISBN-13: 9781108702539