The title of this collection refers both to women writing to refute female stereotypes and the current process of writing women back into their proper place in literary history. A sub theme is
the contacts, either direct or through their work, between women writers across national borders in the early modern period. Gilleir (modern German literature, University of Leuven), Montoya
(romance languages, University of Groningen) and van Dijk, a specialist in French and comparative literature, provide a comprehensive introduction to the essays. They are divided into three
sections: female space and communities, the appropriation of traditionally male genres and transnational influences. The writers are natives of Spain, Italy, France, England, Denmark, Portugal
and Russia. The women are mostly upper class but include a middle-class Irish-Spaniard. While they are of differing political and religious beliefs, the women are all bound by their awareness
of the unreasonableness of attitudes keeping them from being taken seriously as writers. Annotation 穢2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
