Fifteenth-Century Studies

Book excerpt: Founded in 1977 as the publication organ for the Fifteenth-Century Symposium, Fifteenth-Century Studies has appeared annually since then. It publishes essays on all aspects of life in the fifteenth century, including literature, drama, history, philosophy, art, music, religion, science, and ritual and custom. The editors strive to do justice to the most contested medieval century, a period that is the stepchild of research. The period defies consensus on fundamental issues: some dispute, in fact, whether the fifteenth century belonged at all to the middle ages, arguing that it was a period of transition, a passage to modern times. At issue, therefore, is the very tenor of an age that stood under the tripartite influence of Gutenberg, the Turks, and Columbus. Volume 26 contains the customary survey of research on late-medieval drama. There are six articles on French literature, four on German topics, two on Italian art, one on Spanish medieval predication, and three on English literary matters. Six of the articles focus on women and misogyny. Further topics include: popular approaches to problems of daily living; the crusades and mysticism; an early warning against excess in travel and exploration; the conduct of princes as described in chronicles; the so-called Pope Joan; theater, including farces, passion pageants, and triumphant entries of princes; critique of the estates; the function of authors, and their rights, duties, and privileges. There are 17 book reviews and two obituary dedications. The volume has been assembled with special care for style, excellence of research, and variety of approaches. Edelgard DuBruck is professor emerita of Modern Languages at Marygrove College, Detroit, Michigan. Barbara Gusick is professor emerita of English at Troy University-Dothan, Dothan, Alabama.