Society & Culture / Literary Studies & Writing / Literary Theory & Criticism

How Early Modern Women Were Erased from History & Reimagined Through Biofiction

Authorizing Early Modern European Women: From Biography to Biofiction

James Fitzmaurice, Naomi J. Miller, Sara Jayne Steen

Did you know that some of the most influential women of the 1400s-1700s were systematically erased from history? Their works were credited to men, their stories twisted into romantic fantasies, and their voices silenced. This video explores the groundbreaking book *Authorizing Early Modern European Women: From Biography to Biofiction*, edited by James Fitzmaurice, Naomi J. Miller, and Sara Jayne Steen. We dive into how female artists, writers, and healers like Levina Teerlinc, Aemilia Lanyer, and Artemisia Gentileschi fought to authorize their own visions—and how modern biofiction is reclaiming their true stories. Discover the shocking truth behind the 'Dark Lady' myth, the hidden power of embroidery as autobiography, and why historical imagination might be more honest than official archives. By the end, you'll see history differently and understand why these women's legacies matter today.