Commissioned in honor of the work of Joan M. Ferrante, ten essays from her former students address questions of women and identity formation in medieval literature. The contributions range through time, covering the period from the tenth through the fifteenth centuries, and discuss sources written in Latin, French, Italian, Occitan, English, and Hebrew. A sampling of topics includes Dante's instructions to future copyists of his work; the function of liturgical dramas performed at nunneries; and the stereotypical depiction of medieval Saracen women. The volume is not indexed. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
