'This study constitutes a giant step forward in the development of early modern sociocriticism, calling for a reappraisal of the relationship between gender and political thought, in the widest possible sense. With sustained scholarly rigor and impartiality, Conroy offers a nuanced view of female rulers on stage, combining theoretical literature with drama. Her work will revitalize the field in two directions, revising many long-held ideas on monarchy and enhancing further discoveries.'-James Gaines, Professor Emeritus of French, University of Mary Washington, USA Praise for Ruling Women, Volume 1, Government, Virtue, and the Female Prince in Seventeenth-Century France:'In this fascinating and original study, Conroy investigates the intellectual history of the exclusion of women from the French throne. She brilliantly shows how seventeenth-century feminist authors exposed the contradictions of their opponents and demonstrated that the intellectual and moral virtues required for governing were "of both sexes". A must-read for everyone interested in the politics of gender.'-Siep Stuurman, Professor Emeritus of the History of Ideas, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
