The oldest book

collection highlight The oldest book

The oldest book in the library of Atria dates from 1578, and was translated from French by Jean de (van) Marconville. It has quite a lenghty title: ‘Der vrouwen lof ende lasteringe: begrijpende alle de goetheyt, deucht ende weerdicheyt der goeder: ende wederom alle de quaetheyt gebrec en valscheyt der quader vrouwen’. This title roughly translates to: ‘about the good and evil in women’. The book counts a total of 251 pages.

It is an early modern-days ode to women. This genre is part of the ‘querelle des femmes’, the controversy concerning the virtues and capacities of women. By providing arguments for a certain vision on women, authors discuss the interpretation of the concept of gender.

The original French text by J.L.M. of Hapart was considered very popular at that time.

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