Virgins Of Venice: Enclosed Lives And Broken Vows In The Renaissance Convent - Softcover

Laven, Mary

3.71

257 ratings by Goodreads

9780140298291: Virgins Of Venice: Enclosed Lives And Broken Vows In The Renaissance Convent

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140298290 ISBN 13: 9780140298291

Publisher: Penguin, 2003

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

Renaissance Venice had a convent on almost every corner, and nuns loomed large in the city's daily life. Far from being places of religious devotion, the convents were often little more than dumping-grounds for unmarried women from the upper ranks of Venetian society. Supported by their private incomes, the nuns ate, dressed and behaved as gentlewomen. They followed the latest fashions in hairstyles and footwear, kept lap-dogs, gave parties for their relatives, and schemed to influence the running of the city's affairs. In VIRGINS OF VENICE, Mary Laven creates a fascinating portrait of their hidden world.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

"Venice was unique in its attitude to nuns and convents. . . . Here, at last, is the most interesting and informative book I have ever read on the subject."

Synopsis:

A portrait of 16th and 17th century Italian convent life, set in the vibrant culture of late Renaissance Venice. Early 16th century Venice had 50 convents and about 3,000 nuns. In this book Mary Laven provides an insight into the nuns hidden world. Far from being places of religious devotion, the convents were often little more than dumping-grounds for unmarried women from the upper ranks of Venetian society. Often entering a convent at seven years old, these young women remained emotionally and socially attached to their families and to their way of life outside the convent. Supported by their private incomes, the nuns ate, dressed and behaved as gentlewomen. In contravention of their vows, they followed the latest fashions in hairstyles and footwear, kept lap dogs and threw parties for their relations. But in the 16th and 17th centuries the Counter Reformation was to change all that. Threatened by the advance of Protestantism, the Catholic Church set about reforming its own institutions. A new state magistracy rapidly turned its attentions to policing the nuns' behaviour relentlessly pursuing transgressors on both sides of the convent wall.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.