Andreas Capellanus on Love? / Arthurian and Courtly Cultures (PDF)

KATHLEEN ANDERSEN-WYMAN is Assistant Professor of English and Humanities at Brazosport College, USA.

'This fascinating rereading of the De amore of Andreas Capellanus within a twelfth-century context uncovers his subversive approach to class, gender (specifically, heterosexuality), religion, and the individual. In her deft, clever examination, Andersen-Wyman sees what other readers have not, thereby explaining the reason for the book's condemnation by Bishop Tempier. Only superficially about the seduction of women, De amore reveals Andreas's view of the subjectivity and relativity of argument and evidence and his general condemnation of judgment. By raising female voices in dialogue, Andreas exonerates women and counters oppressive institutions. An important new book.' - Jane Chance, Rice University

'In her study of this perennially baffling text, Andersen-Wyman does far more than clear up its difficulties and make lucid its surprising project. By reorienting the book's archive toward contemporary ecclesiastical Latin discourses on love, desire, friendship and sexuality, she expands our view well beyond he the arena of vernacular courtly literature that has dominated readings of Andreas, and gives us the picture of a period passionately engaged in debating these issues with the human seriousness the joy, pain and exaltation they deserve. Driven by deep learning and critical acumen in its overall argument, the book is ornamented by a flashing wit, often of bracing tartness, in its particular observations. Andreas Capellanus on Love is worthy of its subject: powerful, funny and smart. It is the best book in medieval studies that I have read in a long time.' - H. Marshall Leicester, Jr., University of California, Santa Cruz

'Finally, here is a most intelligent and thoughtful, truly sensitive and best informed study on the highly complex, mysteriously contradictory treatise by Andreas Capellanus, De amore. Andersen -Wyman's book cuts through much of traditional scholarship on this text and offers an intriguing, absolutely convincing analysis,