This timely study analyses the seventeenth-century revival of monasticism by English women who founded convents in France and the Low Countries. Examining the nuns' membership of both the English Catholic community and the continental Catholic Church, it argues that despite strict monastic enclosure and exile, they nevertheless engaged actively in the spiritual and political controversies of their day. The book will add much to our understanding of women's power in early modern Europe, and offer an insight into a previously ignored section of English society.

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'...Walker has broken new ground in early modern women's history.' - J. M. Pope, Choice

About the author

CLAIRE WALKER lectures in early modern European history at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She has published several articles on the post-Reformation English convents in leading journals and collections of essays.

Bibliographic Information

Book Title: Gender and Politics in Early Modern Europe
Book Subtitle: English Convents in France and the Low Countries
Authors: Claire Walker
Series Title: Early Modern History: Society and Culture
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230595545
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan London
eBook Packages: Palgrave History Collection, History (R0)
Copyright Information: Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited 2003
Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-333-75370-5Published: 05 November 2002
eBook ISBN: 978-0-230-59554-5Published: 05 November 2002
Series ISSN: 2947-9061
Series E-ISSN: 2947-907X
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XII, 247
Topics: History of Britain and Ireland, Gender Studies, Modern History, History of Religion, Social History, Cultural History

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

Front Matter

Introduction

Female Monasticism Revived: Foundations and Vocations

The Monastic Family: Order and Disorder in the Cloister

The Monastic Economy: Prayer and Manual Labour

Beyond the Cloister: Patronage, Politics and Society

Active in Contemplation: Spiritual Choices and Practices

Conclusion

Back Matter

About this book