Cities of Women - by Kathleen B Jones

About the Book

This "is a work of historical literary fiction inspired by a decade of research on the medieval life and times of the proto-feminist Christine de Pizan, the first European woman of letters to support herself as a writer. ... The story moves between present and past in a dual narrative, evoking the spare joys and monumental pitfalls facing medieval women artists, and a contemporary woman who becomes obsessed with medieval books: Verity Frazier, a disillusioned professor of history [who] risks her career when she sets out to prove that the artist responsible for the illuminations in the medieval manuscripts of Christine de Pizan was a remarkable woman named Anastasia. As Anastasia's story unfolds against the ... 15th century backdrop of moral disaster and political intrigue--yet extraordinary creativity--Verity finds little evidence of the artist's existence, while discovering the missing pieces to make her own life whole"--

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