Diana ROBIN, Anne LARSEN, and Carole LEVIN (dir.)
Santa Barbara/Denver/Oxford, ABC-CLIO, 2007. 459 p., $95
The first encyclopedia dedicated solely to women of the Renaissance, this work draws on recent historical scholarship to document their contributions. About 135 biographical entries focus on individual women scholars, religious leaders, scientists, doctors, artists, philosophical writers, and women of high rank who used their status to exercise political influence or serve as patrons of the arts. The remaining entries are lengthy topical essays that discuss subjects that affected women, such as education, music, medicine and childbirth, religion, work, the Querelle des femmes, power, politics, and literary culture. Each of the entries is followed by an extensive bibliography.