“Sprightly and sparkling…dramatic incidents abound…a lively rendering of a life and mind that inspires.” In the year of grace 1396, Christine de Pizan is a young Parisian woman living in a tower overlooking the Seine, but hers is no fairy story. Since her beloved husband’s death, she struggles daily to support her aged mother and two small children. Seeking to ease her broken heart, Christine begins to write poetry in a delicate blend of form and emotion that provides a much-needed outlet for her loneliness and sorrow. In time, Christine begins reading her verses at court, attracting the interest of powerful nobles who become valued—and generous—patrons. She’s buoyed by her success until she learns that, as the only woman poet at court, she has also attracted the jealous attention of the men she has displaced. Having finally gained confidence and financial stability, Christine takes up her pen in defense of women and as an advocate for peace even as malevolent forces threaten her and the kingdom’s very survival—but will it be enough? Can one woman, armed only with a pen and her wits, step into the breach and turn the tide? “…Internal struggles with grief and self-doubt, external conflicts against societal expectations, and dangerous court intrigues…” and brimming with meticulously researched detail that brings the fourteenth century to dazzling life, fans of Coirle Mooney and Elizabeth Chadwick will appreciate I, Christine : the incredible true story of the first woman in France to earn her living as an author. Sprightly and sparkling despite its hefty length, this intimate epic of art and politics from Maxwell (author of The Rogue Queen ) examines the life, mind, and choices of medieval poet Christine de Pizan, whose poetry made her the toast of France in the late 14th century. As her nation faces conflict from abroad and within, Maxwell's de Pizan is, at the novel's start, a widow liberated from financial deprivation by a surprising opportunity: she is invited to earn a living copying books in the king's library. De Pizan quickly comes to love this "peaceful life," working "high above the city's fray in the Falconry Tower." When she is encouraged by one of her several mentors to write her own poetry, however, she soon finds herself the center of the court's attention, earning admirers in dukes and even the queen—and the enmity of the poet she bests in a royal competition. De Pizan notes, tartly, that he "does not think that I, a mere woman, possess the wit necessary to write poetry." Maxwell tells this literary tale with brisk authority, moving quickly through de Pizan's ascent and her growth as an artist, thinker, and person. Dramatic incidents abound, as de Pizan, who is soon commissioned to write and read for the queen herself, faces public controversies and a burgeoning sense of her own responsibility as discord roils the nation. "What can I do? I am just one woman!" she asks, when a dear friend and priest urges her to work for peace. Dialogue and characterization compel, though the prose, honed for clarity and ease of reading, tends to avoid a poet's lyricism. What most fascinates is de Pizan's growing awareness of the injustice of women's position in society. The poet shrewdly maneuvers to secure stations for her children's future while honing her voice and arriving at pressing questions like "Why were so few books written about praiseworthy women?" Maxwell has written one, a lively rendering of a life and mind that inspires. BookLife, 12/09/2024 "In I, Christine Maxwell weaves a rich story of Christine's attempt to find her way as a young women thrust into a male dominated world. Through her poetry and writing she is able to navigate the royal court and find a place for her and her children. I, Christine is filled with vivid imagery, rich poetry and compelling characters. I, Christine is based on actual events and Maxwell flawlessly weaves the story together to provide a fascinating story. With thorough research and wonderful writing Maxwell brings the story and 14th century Paris to life. Christine de Pizan is one of the earliest female writers in the Middle Ages. Maxwell is able to tell her story in an engaging manner that leaves no doubt why Christine was successful. I, Christine is a great book for any fan of Christine de Pizan or medieval fiction in general. Grab a copy now for a your winter reading session." --Medieval Archives, Dec. 11, 2023