The history of the seven wise mistrisses of Rome (1663) as children’s literatureTextual history, gender and folktale motifs

  1. Tomás Monterrey 1
  1. 1 Universidad de La Laguna
    info

    Universidad de La Laguna

    San Cristobal de La Laguna, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01r9z8p25

Journal:
ES Review. Spanish Journal of English Studies

ISSN: 2531-1654,  2531-1646

Year of publication: 2021

Issue: 42

Pages: 11-36

Type: Article

DOI: 10.24197/ERSJES.42.2021.11-36 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openDialnet editor

More publications in: ES Review. Spanish Journal of English Studies

Abstract

This article analyses The History of the Seven Wise Mistrisses of Rome, attributed to Thomas Howard, and traditionally underrated by literary critics and historians as a mere imitation of the Seven Sages, despite its enormous success. The early parts examine the literary and editorial relationship with its source text, and Howard’s prefatory “Epistle.” The latter parts concentrate on the frame story and the fifteen exemplary tales. Special attention is drawn to the gender/feminist issues in the original extension of the frame story, and to the folktale motifs displayed in this compilation, stylistically and thematically conceived to help children improve their reading competence.

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