Lucrece and Brutus - Glory in the Land of Tender

A collection of texts by a pioneering seventeenth-century French woman author.

Comprising texts by Madeleine de Scudery, including many from her novel Clelie, this volume focuses on the story of Lucretia, the Roman matron whose rape and suicide led to the downfall of the Roman monarchy. Through her work, Scudery seeks to contrast the enormous cultural contributions of women with their physical vulnerability and to propose an alternative to sexual violation, as envisioned on the Map of the Land of Tender that charts an imaginary land in the novel and outlines a path toward love. In Scudery’s version of this tale, Lucrece and her beloved, Brutus, follow the path of tender friendship. Scudery contradicts history’s characterization of Lucrece as craving glory in the form of fame. Indeed, contrary to ancient sources, Lucrece’s glory will be her decision to sacrifice herself secretly for her tender friend.