Debate of the Romance of the rose /

Ever since Le Debat sur le Roman de la Rose, ed. by Eric Hicks (1977), appeared, others have returned to the debate (which was sparked by Christine de Pizan) in an effort to expand the framework Hicks established or to elucidate the debate for nonspecialists. Hult (French, Univ. of California, Berkeley) is the most recent to contribute, and his collection is the most enlightening for students without French. Hult bases his selection of pertinent documents largely on Hicks's: dossiers of the debate, related works or passages by Pizan, relevant letters by Jean de Montreuil, and Jean Gerson's Rose treatise and related sermons. Hult's selection is broader than Hicks's but less wide-ranging than Christine McWebb's in Debating the Roman de la rose: A Critical Anthology (2007). Hult prefers full-length texts, and his skillful translations and thoughtful contextualizations are well targeted to the student reader. His historical and literary perspectives are both broad and critically nuanced, bringing the protagonists to life and making the issues involved matter. He also offers perceptive analysis, highlighting, for example, Pizan's balancing of authoritative sources with her personal experience. A wonderful addition to the "Other Voice in Early Modern Europe" series. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates, graduate students. C. M. Reno Vassar College