Anne de Graville and Women’s Literary Networks in Early Modern France won the 2024 Best Book (Scholarly Monograph) award.
The Society for the Study of Early Modern Women and Gender has awarded Dr Elizabeth L’Estrange’s book its ‘2024 Best Book (Scholarly Monographs)’ award. Published in 2023, Anne de Graville and Women’s Literary Networks in Early Modern France explores the connection between French poet Anne de Graville’s library and book-collecting practices and her writing.
The awards committee justified their decision by saying: “Anne de Graville and Women's Literary Networks in Early Modern France combines meticulous archival and bibliographical research with innovative literary analysis. Offering a detailed reconstruction of De Graville’s library and her writings, Elizabeth L’Estrange argues that we need to see De Graville’s activities as an author as informed by her participation in a community of book owners and readers. Alert to family interests, social networks, and political shifts, L’Estrange shows that contributions to the querelles des femmes could take a wide variety of forms and calls attention to an often-ignored period in literary history between Christine de Pizan and Marguerite de Navarre. This lavishly illustrated and well-written book offers a fascinating account of the concerns animating one woman’s complex involvement in the world of books.”
I’m delighted that Anne de Graville and Women’s Literary Networks in Early Modern France has won this prize and I hope it will increase the visibility of this important writer and book collector. Studying her library and her works has highlighted that there are so many more avenues to explore around women’s reading and writing habits in this period. I am now working on an edition of her works with my colleague, Joan E. McRae, and I’m hoping that other scholars will now be inspired to explore further aspects of her contribution to literature and the querelle des femmes.
Associate Professor in History of Art
Biographical and contact information for Dr Elizabeth L'Estrange, Associate Professor in History of Art at the University of Birmingham.
