Blanche Parry

commissioned by a daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife, in turn, to both French and English Kings. Chapter Four – Creative Revisions: Competing Figures of the Patroness – examines Thomas Chestre's Sir Launfal. The discussion of this further develops the theme by demonstrating the positive value of women's sponsorship, men's reactions to this, and emphasises that such guidance can continue down the generations. The author highlights the sections where the heroines' private and public reactions are contradictory. She suggests readers were sufficiently aware of the format to understand the differences and the contexts. Therefore, they were not simply indulging in what today would be termed escapist literature. The scope is developed from the particular, becoming wide ranging to enlighten women elsewhere in location and time. The admirable Conclusion succinctly summarises the discussion. The value of these texts lies in the heroines' knowledge of the sacred and secular which facilitates the extent, and depth, of their influence and patronage. The romances provided an avenue for medieval women to learn how to operate with advantage in society.

Romances, initially read for entertainment, thus became lessons in achieving a modicum of control in women's lives. The heroines may well have functioned as role models, and the author makes an excellent case for this premise. What is not emphasised is that even wealthy ladies such as Margaret Beaufort possessed, in modern terms, very small libraries. Books were read and re–read again and again. Therefore, what began on first reading as excitement for the story would eventually become so well known, and indeed loved, by the reader that the precepts in the story would be, perhaps even unconsciously, acted upon. However, only wealthy gentlewomen and ladies of the nobility had the leisure to read. Indeed, it was only this class in society who could afford to own books in the first place. Although literacy did improve in these centuries it was still only a minority who could read at all. Most women did not have the opportunity, could not read, did not have the time, or did not see the point anyway as it was not an accomplishment necessary for their lives.

This is a fascinating book full of ideas credibly supported from the chosen texts. Discussion of the patrons involved, and the literary changes they wanted, provide an immediacy that roots these papers firmly in the reality of the medieval world.