The Life of Lady Johanna Eleonora Petersen, Written by Herself: Pietism and Women's Autobiography in Seventeenth-Century GermanyIn a time when the Pauline dictum decreed that women be silent in matters of the Church, Johanna Eleonora Petersen (1644–1724) was a pioneering author of religious books, insisting on her right to speak out as a believer above her male counterparts. Publishing her readings of the Gospels and the Book of Revelation as well as her thoughts on theology in general, Petersen and her writings created controversy, especially in orthodox circles, and she became a voice for the radical Pietists—those most at odds with Lutheran ministers and their teachings. But she defended her lay religious calling and ultimately printed fourteen original works, including her autobiography, the first of its kind written by a woman in Germany—all in an age in which most women were unable to read or write. Collected in The Life of Lady Johanna Eleonora Petersen are Petersen's autobiography and two shorter tracts that would become models of Pietistic devotional writing. A record of the status and contribution of women in the early Protestant church, this collection will be indispensable reading for scholars of seventeenth-century German religious and social history. |
Other editions - View all
The Life of Lady Johanna Eleonora Petersen, Written by Herself: Pietism and ... Johanna Eleonora Petersen No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
according Anna Maria autobiography became Bible Book of Revelation Brandenburg-Prussia Cambridge century chastity Chicago Press chiliasm Christian Christine de Pizan church court daughters death devotional divine duchess duke Early Modern Europe edited and translated England English Epistle eternity faith father female Feminist Frankfurt friends Gender German Glückel of Hameln God's grace heart Holy humanist Jane Lead Jesus Christ Johann Wilhelm Petersen Johanna Eleonora Petersen John learned Leben letter literary Literature live London Lord Lutheran male marriage married Mary Mary Astell Medieval Merlau mother mystic née person Philadelphian Philipp Jakob Spener Philippseck Pietist Protestant published Reformed religious Renaissance Revelation Saalhof Saint salvation Schurman scripture seventeenth Seventeenth-Century sister social soul spiritual Teresa of Avila texts theologian theological things thought tradition truth Tübingen University of Chicago University Press unto visionary voice volume editor's wanted wife woman Women Writers words worldly writing wrote York