Arthurian Women

Arthurian Characters and Themes

by Thelma S. Fenster (Editor), Norris J. Lacy (Series editor)

Featuring three original and 14 classic essays, this volume examines literary representations of women in Arthuriana and how women artists have viewed them. The essays discuss the female characters in Arthurian legend, medieval and modern readers of the legend, modern critics and the modern women writers who have recast the Arthurian inheritance, and finally women visual artists who have used the material of the Arthurian story. All the essays concentrate interpretation on a female creator and the work. This collection contains a useful bibliography of material devoted to female characters in Arthurian literature.

Genres: Arthurian, Nonfiction, History, Womens, Academic

424 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1996

About the author

Thelma Fenster is professor emerita of French and Medieval Studies at Fordham University (New York City, New York).

Reviews

[Alex Bledsoe]

Interesting analysis of female characters in Arthurian legend. For me, the most fascinating was the insider account of Julia Cameron's creation of her photographic illustrations of "Idylls of the King." The psychological interpretation of "In Defense of Guinevere" was also very insightful, pointing out the rich contradictory nature of this usually one-dimensional character.

[A V]

Some of the best critical analysis I've read on women in Arthurian lit so far. Also mega sassy