French Literature Reviews - 2026
Women's Theatre of the Ancien Régime
Theatre and Performance
Théâtre de femmes de l'Ancien Régime. Vol. 1: 16th Century
Edited by Aurore Evain, Perry Gethner & Henriette Goldwyn
Saint-Etienne, Publications de l'Université, coll. "La cité des dames" no. 5, 2006, 568 p., 10 euros.
Women's theatre has a long tradition dating back to the Renaissance, which flourished in subsequent eras and frequently achieved great success. This anthology invites readers to explore this tradition, beginning with the first known major French female authors: Queen Marguerite of Navarre, the Lyonese poet Louise Labé, and Catherine Des Roches, the host of a famous literary salon in Poitiers.
Their works immerse us in the astonishing theatrical landscape of the 16th century, a time of intense effervescence and transformation. The sister of Francis I was the first to venture into this traditionally male-dominated domain; sympathetic to Reformation ideals and a champion of freedom of conscience, she composed plays that were as original as they were daring. The scholar Louise Labé engaged with the humanist debates of her time concerning ancient theatre, "modern" Italian genres, and contemporary philosophies; her provocative debate-comedy would leave a lasting legacy. Finally, Catherine Des Roches expressed herself through pastoral poetry, tragi-comedy, and dramatic dialogues... Illustrating the richness and variety of the theatre that preceded the "classical age," these three pioneers shared a common commitment to making women's voices heard. This is not the least of the rewards of reading—or staging—their work today.
A. Evain is an actress currently preparing a doctoral dissertation on female playwrights of the Ancien Régime; P. Gethner, professor at Oklahoma University, has published the first anthology dedicated to female dramatists of this era; H. Goldwyn, professor at New York University, has authored several studies on 17th-century female playwrights.
The texts by Marguerite de Navarre were edited by Catherine Masson and Nancy Erickson Bouzrara, in collaboration with Aurore Evain. The texts by Louise Labé and Catherine Des Roches were edited by Eliane Viennot.
Paperback, pocket format, texts presented with modernized spelling and punctuation.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Marguerite de Navarre
Notice
The Inquisitor
The Sick Man
Too Much, Enough, Little, Less
Comedy of the Four Women
Comedy of the Perfect Lovers
Comedy of Mont-de-Marsan
Comedy of the Nativity of Jesus Christ
Comedy of the Desert
Louise Labé
Notice
Debate between Folly and Love
Catherine Des Roches
Notice
Tobit
Pastoral
Placidus and Severus
Iris and Pasithea
Bibliographical Supplement
Glossary
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This volume gathers dramatic works by 16th-century French female authors, highlighting a tradition that preceded the classical age. The anthology presents writings by Queen Marguerite of Navarre, the poet Louise Labé, and salon host Catherine Des Roches, showcasing their engagement with contemporary humanist debates, pastoral poetry, tragi-comedy, and various theatrical genres. Edited with modernized spelling and punctuation, the collection invites readers to explore the rich landscape of early French drama and the distinctive voices that contributed to its development during a period of intense cultural transformation.
The historical context of early modern literature is marked by the gradual emergence of printed dramatic texts and the evolution of humanist performance traditions across Europe. Anthologies of early French drama often serve to document the diverse forms of dialogue and poetry that preceded the codification of classical theatrical rules. Readers interested in early modern French literature and the history of drama may find this collection a helpful resource for exploring the contributions of women writers to the period's theatrical heritage.