A rich collection of plays by French and francophone women writers in English translation

Mormons in Paris / Louis Leroy and Alfred Delacour -- Berthelier Meets the Mormons -- Japheth's Twelve Wives / Antony Mars and Maurice Desvallières -- Stephana's Jewel / Arthur Bernède and Albert Dubarry.

Worldwide Women Writers in Paris examines a new literary phenomenon consisting of an unprecedented number of women from around the world who have come to Paris and become authors of written works in French. It takes as its starting point a series of filmed interviews conducted in the French capital, a set of recorded conversations motivated by a desire to pay homage to these discrete voices and images at a moment characterized by impressive diversity. Their individual paths to France and to French are noteworthy, and these authors of different generations and varying places of origin emphasize their singularity. However, the juxtaposition of their reflections reveals that many have faced similar difficulties when learning the French language, adapting to life in France, and many have encountered forms of prejudice in the publishing world related to their ethnicity or gender. These challenges have led them, each in an idiosyncratic manner, to tackle tough topics in their work and to respond to adversity by finding effective creative expressions. Taken together, the innovations and interventions in oral and written form of these authors collectively contribute to significant change in the specialized score that is the Parisian literary landscape: Hélène Cixous (Algeria); Zahia Rahmani (Algeria); Leïla Sebbar (Algeria); Bessora (Belgium); Julia Kristeva (Bulgaria); Pia Petersen (Denmark); Maryse Condé (Guadeloupe); Eva Almassy (Hungary); Shumona Sinha (India); Chahdortt Djavann (Iran); Yumiko Seki (Japan); Evelyne Accad (Lebanon); Etel Adnan (Lebanon); Nathacha Appanah (Mauritius); Brina Svit (Slovenia); Eun-Ja Kang (South Korea); Anna Moï (Vietnam).

In the Middle Ages, religious theater was a popular medium for both the edification and the entertainment of the public. This book centers on seven of the forty "Miracles de Nostre Dame par personnages" plays, produced annually for the Goldsmiths' Guild of Paris and surviving in the 14th-century Cange Manuscript. This is the first in-depth study of a subset performed between 1368 and 1379 about women unjustly accused of adultery or monstrous birth, or threatened with rape or incest. Surprisingly modern themes of female empowerment, self-mutilation, and cross-dressing emerge as the women are forced into exile to escape death, but are eventually vindicated with the miraculous help of Our Lady. The book demonstrates that in addition to the plays' religious significance and literary qualities, they engage with the goldsmiths' spiritual and material concerns, reflect their urban culture, and promote their socio-political agenda during the war and turmoil of 14th-century France. "...the reader benefits greatly from the combination of plot resumes, critical commmentary, and insightful interpretation that Harvey's own writing style makes it a pleasure to read". Beverly J. Evans, State U. of NY at Geneseo, Dalhousie French Studies 96, 2011

Noteworthy Francophone Women Directors: A Sequel is a comprehensive guide that acts as both a teaching tool and a directory for research. The book begins following films released after the publication of Pallister and Hottell's last volume, Francophone Women Film Directors in 2005 and stops after the Cannes film festival in 2010. Unique among guides dealing with film, both for its breadth and for its exclusive attention to Francophone women throughout the world, this work foregrounds the production by nearly three hundred Francophone women filmmakers from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Latin American, Québec, even Thailand. The authors have researched film journals, followed web sites, attended film festivals and conferences, and traveled around the globe to conduct research in film libraries, and attend screenings and interviews with filmmakers. A list of film sources, an extensive bibliography, and an index of film directors and the titles of their films maximize this directory's usefulness.