La Rafaela by Alessandro Piccolomini is a critical edition that revisits a Renaissance dialogue on the education and status of women. Edited by Eva Moreno-Lago, the work is a significant contribution to the debate on gender equality that gained prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries across Europe. The dialogue explores themes of love, virtue, beauty, and wisdom through conversations between two women of differing character and experience. It highlights the importance of education in cultivating women's virtues and knowledge, challenging the social and gender norms of the time. The work is considered a vital piece in understanding the societal shifts towards recognizing women's dignity and roles during the Renaissance, serving as a historical foundation for contemporary gender studies. |