One of the most striking aspects of abbé d'Aubignac's fictional output is that the principal focus of his work is women. D'Aubignac's attempt to articulate his philosophy about the female sex is very much an intricate balancing act. While he is clearly interested in women, placing them on a pedestal in many of his writings, the abbé imposes limitations on their perceived innate qualities and often embraces the notion of the female as a societal scapegoat. All the Abbé's Women explores how these ideas were influenced by the socio-political conditions of d'Aubignac's time, resulting in a complex interrelationship between the notions of power and misogyny in the author's fictional and critical works. The study also aims to contribute to the scholarship on d'Aubignac, painting a portrait of the abbé that has not been the focus of previous books. The work will appeal to students of French literature, gender studies and the cultural history of Early Modern France.

Dr Bernard Bourque is an Adjunct Lecturer in French at the University of New England (Australia).