Reclaiming Catherine of Siena

“Tylus’ book is a rich and intelligent contribution to the burgeoning field of scholarship on medieval European women visionaries, building on a considerable body of work by scholars working in different disciplines. The style is often elegant—even literary—and the discussions nuanced and detailed. It suggests, convincingly, that the signs of Catherine, and of others, succeeded in making her a donna, and not a serva.”

“Catherine of Siena was one of medieval Europe’s most fascinating and important religious and political personages, male or female. Thanks to Jane Tylus, we now have a book in English that presents her in all her impressive complexity, constantly engaging the reader in Catherine’s spiritual and political mission as well as her life story. Tylus is a fine storyteller, a discerning interpreter, and a generous thinker.”

“This book considers Catherine of Siena from the perspective of language, especially her own Tuscan dialect, a strong vernacular Tylus argues Catherine helped to shape. Tylus nuances long-standing questions about Catherine’s ability to read and write in a completely original way. There is nothing straightforward or unproblematic about the type of literacy she proposes for Catherine, but it is entirely framed in the context of late medieval Italy, and paints a new portrait of the saint.”

“The rarity of studies as deeply learned and continually thought-provoking as Tylus’s makes it virtually unique. . . . This important contribution by a major scholar is a must for those interested in Trecento Italy, its literature, and its religion. Essential.”

“Tylus’s book convincingly demonstrates Catherine’s respect for writing. The book is also scholarly, mentioning many relevant studies. . . . A thoughtful and original study.”