"M. de Maulde has exhausted the subject, and gives us a sort of bible of the feminine life."-Revue des Deux Mondes. Among the numerous writings on feminism which have appeared in these latter days, none is more complete and entertaining than M. de Maulde's."-Journal des Débats. "M. de Maulde has written a most captivating volume, which will remain a definitive monument henceforth indispensable to anyone who wishes to know the history of the French soul."-Revue des Revues. "The question of feminism has been treated in masterly fashion by M. de Maulde in his fine book on The Women of the Renaissance. And while he draws the completest picture of French and Italian society in the 15th and 16th centuries, and groups his finished portraits with accomplished art, he at the same time marvellously depicts the charm and the influence of women at that curious epoch."-République Française. "It is almost impossible to name a more fascinating book for anyone interested in history. . . . We have no idea of attempting to sum it up or condense it in a few pages; it would suffer too seriously in the process; we should merely like, without recommending it (which would be superfluous) to the attention of our readers, to indicate its merit, its charm, and its opportuneness."-Correspondant. EXTRACT FROM A REVIEW IN The Athenaeum. "M. de Maulde writes in great detail and with commendable erudition on the position of women and the feminist movement of the sixteenth century as it shaped itself in Italy and, later, in France. These studies of the woman of those days, in all her social relations and in all her activities, are illustrated with an unceasing flow of anecdote and citation, never more apt than when employed to characterise that remarkable group who were imbued with the so-called 'idées platoniciennes.' . . . After a really interesting sketch of the composition of that curious amalgam which finds its complete expression in the harangue of Bembo M. de Maulde draws many inferences which have a direct application to the feminist movement of our own day; in contrast, for instance, with the mystical ardours of Renaissance platonism we hear of the naturalism of John Ruskin. For this reason the book will, we think, attract a wide circle of readers; many . . . will be delighted by its store of lively and significant anecdote." |