French Literature Reviews - 2026
A. Evain, P. Gethner, H. Goldwyn (eds.), Théâtre de femmes de l'Ancien Régime. Vol. 2. 17th Century.
Theatre and Performance
Aurore Evain, Perry Gethner, Henriette Goldwyn (eds.), Théâtre de femmes de l'Ancien Régime. Vol. 2, 17th century
Saint-Étienne, Publications de l'Université, "La Cité des Dames" series, No. 6, May 2008, 624 pp.
EAN : 9782862724751
15 €
Following the initial, rare yet prolific, experiments of the 16th century, and after an eclipse of more than fifty years, women's theater began to flourish in the 1650s. Salon hostesses, poets, novelists, and even a nun saw their plays published, reviewed in major journals, and performed by professional troupes at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, the Théâtre du Marais, and at Court…
The nine plays collected here, spanning from 1655 to 1680, represent all the genres practiced at the time: one-act comedy, tragicomedy, comedy-ballet, and tragedy. They are the work of Françoise Pascal from Lyon, one of the most prolific playwrights, who breathed new life into the "petite comédie"; of Mme de Villedieu, adored in the salons for her wit and verse, pensioned by Louis XIV, who tirelessly questioned history, politics, and gender roles while adhering to the new codes of Classicism; of Sister de La Chapelle, whose L'Illustre philosophe ou l'histoire de sainte Catherine d'Alexandrie shows another facet of the debate on learned women; of Anne de La Roche-Guilhen, a Protestant refugee in England, who had her comedy-ballet performed before Charles II; and finally, of the famous poet Mme Deshoulières, who sounded the death knell of this brilliant and gallant period with a tragedy of unprecedented pessimism.
A. Evain is an actress and is preparing a dissertation on female playwrights of the Ancien Régime; P. Gethner, a professor at Oklahoma University, published the first anthology dedicated to female playwrights of this era; H. Goldwyn, a professor at New York University, has devoted several studies to those of the 17th century.
Paperback volume, pocket format, texts with modernized spelling and punctuation. ISBN 978-2-86272-475-1.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Françoise Pascal
Introductory Note
* L'Amoureux extravagant, comic play, 1657
* L'Amoureuse vaine et ridicule, comic play, 1657
* Sésostris, tragicomedy, 1661
* Le Vieillard amoureux, comic play, 1664
Sister de La Chapelle
Introductory Note
* L'Illustre philosophe, ou l'histoire de sainte Catherine d'Alexandrie, tragedy, 1663
Mme de Villedieu
Introductory Note
* Manlius, tragicomedy, 1662
* Le Favori, tragicomedy, 1665
Anne de La Roche-Guilhen
Introductory Note
* Rare-en-tout, comedy-ballet, 1677
Antoinette Deshoulières
Introductory Note
* Genséric, tragedy, 1680
Supplementary Bibliography
Glossary
Editorial Team
* Editorial Direction: Aurore Evain, Perry Gethner & Henriette Goldwyn
* Volume Introduction: Henriette Goldwyn & Aurore Evain
* Edition of Françoise Pascal's plays: Perry Gethner & Deborah Steinberger
* Edition of Sister de La Chapelle's play: Paul A. Scott
* Edition of Mme de Villedieu's plays: Henriette Goldwyn
* Edition of Anne de La Roche-Guilhen's play: Juliette Cherbuliez
* Edition of Mme Deshoulières's play: Perry Gethner
More information on the anthology's "companion website" (excerpts, news, articles, ordering the book...): http://www.theatredefemmes-ancienregime.org
* To order the book from your bookseller, the distributor for PUSE is SODIS.
* You can also send your order directly to:
Publications de l'Université de Saint-Étienne
35 Rue du Onze-Novembre
42023 Saint-Étienne cedex 2
(postage: consult publications@univ-st-etienne.fr) by filling out the form
This volume sheds light on a vibrant yet frequently overlooked facet of seventeenth-century French literature, documenting how female dramatists navigated the artistic and social conventions of the Ancien Régime. Bringing together works by figures such as Françoise Pascal, Mme de Villedieu, and Antoinette Deshoulières, the collection illustrates the remarkable breadth of genres cultivated by women writers during the classical age, ranging from light comedies and complex tragicomedies to deeply philosophical tragedies performed before courtly and public audiences alike.
Students and scholars of early modern French theater, gender studies, and seventeenth-century cultural history will find this pocket-sized scholarly edition an invaluable resource. By offering modernized spelling and punctuation alongside critical introductions, the book helps readers explore the evolving status of women in literature and society. It is particularly useful for university courses examining classical aesthetics, salon culture, and the historical reception of women playwrights across Europe.
* Or order online on the anthology's website (http://theatredefemmes-ancienregime.org)