Another wonderful book on medieval mothers is Clarissa Atkinson, The
Oldest Vocation: Christian Motherhood in the Middle Ages, Cornell UP,
1991. Its available in paperback. I think that this is the best work
around. There are also two new, excellent essays collections, the one
mentioned previously (don't have reference at hand, sorry), and also
Medieval Mothering, ed. John Carmi Parsons and Bonnie Wheeler, Garland,
1996. The essays in this volume look fascinating. There were also, of
course, medieval mothers who tormented holy daughters .... check out the
now translated Life of Iolande of Vianden; Lawson, Roger H., trans.,
Brother Hermann's Life of the Coutess Yolande of Vianden. Columbia, S.C.:
Camden House, 1995. The German edition is from from 1889, ed. John Meier,
Bruder Hermann: LEben derGraefin Iolande von Vianden. And there are many
other famous examples, of course.
Ann Marie Rasmussen
Ann Marie Rasmussen Office: (919) 660 3160
Box 90256 Fax: (919) 660 3166
German Department Home: (919) 286 5850
Duke University
Durham, NC 27708-0256
"Algernon: All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No
man does. That's his." Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|