The Burgermeister's Daughter
Scandal in a Sixteenth-century German Town
HarperCollins · Print & ebook · February 27, 1997
In an era when women were supposed to be disciplined and obedient, Anna proved to be neither.
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- Who it’s for
- A woman’s defiance unfolds through love letters and court records in a sixteenth-century family dispute.
- Themes
- Gender and sexuality, Family conflict, Women's legal struggle
- Genres
- Women's Lives, 16th-Century History, German History
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Start with this bookAbout this book
In an era when women were supposed to be disciplined and obedient, Anna proved to be neither. Defying 16th-century social mores, she was the frequent subject of gossip because of her immodest dress and flirtatious behavior.
Continue reading
When her wealthy father discovered that she was having secret, simultaneous affairs with a young nobleman and a cavalryman, he turned her out of the house in rage, but when she sued him for financial support, he had her captured, returned home and chained to a table as punishment. Anna eventually escaped and continued her suit against her father, her siblings and her home town in a bitter legal battle that was to last 30 years and end only upon her death. Drawn from her surviving love letters and court records, The Burgermeister's Daughter is a fascinating examination of the politics of sexuality, gender and family in the 16th century, and a powerful testament to the courage and tenacity of a woman who defied the inequalities of this distant age.
Letters and Law
A woman’s defiance unfolds through love letters and court records in a sixteenth-century family dispute.
Come here for
- A close look at gender, sexuality, and family politics
- The tension of a legal battle spanning decades
Expect
- A historical account drawn from surviving letters and court records
- An intimate portrait of courage under unequal rules
Where it sits
| 16th-Century History | 49% |
|---|---|
| German History | 45% |
| Women's Lives | 37% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Art & Politics
- German History
- World History
- Medieval History
Show all 8 publisher categories
- 16th-Century History
- Social History
- Courts & Judicial System
- Social Philosophy
- Authors
- Steven Ozment
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- February 27, 1997
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Gender and sexuality · Family conflict · Women's legal struggle
- Reading lane
- Art & Politics