Cities of Women - by Kathleen B Jones

About the Book

Verity Frazier, dissatisfied with her own life, pushes past the point of obsession to prove the existence of a certain female artist in the fifteenth century.

Book Synopsis

Verity Frazier, dissatisfied with her own life, pushes past the point of obsession to prove the existence of a certain female artist in the fifteenth century.

Review Quotes

"At its heart, Cities of Women is both a detective story about the search for, and love letter to, the women who worked on the beautiful illuminated manuscripts of the medieval era. The novel is both sensitive and well researched, an accomplished debut which marks Jones out as one to watch." -Laura Shepperson, author of Phaedra

"With a scholar's commitment to accurate detail, and the heart of a lover of beauty, Kathleen B. Jones's engaging and well-crafted parallel story brings to light female creativity in medieval France. Jones's writing is as colorful and lucid as the illuminated manuscripts at the center of her novel, and the unforgettable story makes Cities of Women a must read for anyone interested in finding and honoring the forgotten women of western art." --Laurel Corona, author of The Mapmaker's Daughter

"Kathleen B. Jones' great talent is her ability to slide through history showing how the past is inextricably alive inside of every present moment. With witty dialogue and lovingly rendered descriptions of beauty, Cities of Women is both a page turning mystery and an intricate tapestry that entwines academic research, medieval history, art, love, and most importantly, the enduring friendships of women." --Karen Osborn, author of The Music Book

"Cities of Women is a vivid and absorbing dual-timeline novel following a 21st century historian as she uncovers the life of a forgotten medieval female artist. Illuminating and smart, it reads like a love letter to curiosity and creativity. This is an empowering tale of two women separated by the centuries, but united in their determination to pursue their passions at all costs." --Nikki Marmery, author of On Wilder Seas and the forthcoming Lilith

"A meticulously researched and colourfully written exploration of female creativity and tenacity." --Victoria MacKenzie, author of For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain

"Jones weaves a story that entertains and educates.... What adds to the excitement is how de Pizan reaches out across the centuries and touches a woman seeking something she cannot quite identify. It reflects the power of women to influence others regardless of time or space. In that regard, Cities of Women is a book about and for the ages." --New York Journal of Books

"Poetic...clearly well-researched. Cities of Women is a deft look at women who defy the expectations of their times yet remain overlooked by the patriarchy and attempts to place them at greater parity and make them less invisible." --Midwest Book Review

About the Author

Kathleen B. Jones was born and educated in New York. She holds a B.A. in political science from Brooklyn College and a Ph.D. from the political science program at CUNY's Graduate School and Center. After teaching women's studies for two decades at San Diego State University, she resigned to focus on writing, recently earning an M.F.A. in fiction from Fairfield University. Dr. Jones's scholarly writing includes six books published with academic presses--three monographs and three edited anthologies of critical essays. Diving for Pearls: A Thinking Journey with Hannah Arendt won the 2015 Barbara "Penny" Kanner Book Award from the Western Association of Women Historians. Her essays and short fiction have appeared in Fiction International, Mr. Beller's Neighborhood, the Briar Cliff Review, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. She lives in Stonington, Connecticut.