Women Writers: Medieval and Renaissance

Around the world, a few women came to public attention as writers during the period from the sixth through fourteenth centuries. Here are many of them, listed in chronological order. Some names may be familiar, but you're likely to find some you didn't know before.

Her mother was Irene Ducas, and her father was the Emperor Alexius I Comnenus of Byzantium. After her father's death, she documented his life and reign in a 15-volume history written in Greek, which also included information on medicine, astronomy, and accomplished women of Byzantium.

First known woman dramatist, Hrotsvitha von Gandersheim also wrote poems and chronicles.

Biography of medieval religious writer Hrosvitha, a German nun, from a 1911 encyclopedia.

A biography of Marguerite of Navarre, Renaissance woman writer.

She wrote a diary about court life and is known as a poet.

Books by early women writers, part of a series of suggested reading lists related to women's history for reading groups.

Summary of writings of Dhuoda, an educated woman of the ninth century, defending the religious basis of patriarchy as she instructs her son.

Etext of the 1920 translation includes color illustrations and Amy Lowell's introduction, an excellent history of women's writing in Japan.

Biographies of 15 key women writers of the period, by Rebecca L. R. Garber, with comments on sources.

Summary of Moderata Fonte (Modesta Pozzo) work, written about 1600, part of a humanistic tradition of writings in "defense of women."