Women and Romance Fiction in the English Renaissance

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Focusing on the evolution of Renaissance romance, the book explores its shift from being aimed at female readers to being authored by women. Helen Hackett analyzes a variety of writers, including Lyly, Rich, Greene, Sidney, Spenser, and Shakespeare, leading to an in-depth look at Lady Mary Wroth's groundbreaking work, Urania. The study highlights the changing depictions of female heroism and self-identity, particularly how traditional saintly roles were adapted for secular and erotic contexts.