early life. The first two parts, however, concern themselves with an alle
gorical history of the world leading to a history of France which, naturally
enough, gives rise to another discussion concerning the contemporary ills of
the country, similar to the discourse which had already appeared in the
Chemin de long estude. Mlle Pinet is undoubtedly correct in seeing in this
a plea addressed at least indirectly to the new Duke of Burgundy, Jean sans
Peur, ³² since from that time on most of Christine's literary efforts were
appeals to one member of the French royal family after another for leader-
ship in a movement to restore the country's former peace and prosperity.

Thus in the course of the years between 1399 and 1405 Christine's interest
had turned almost completely from writing lyric poetry as a social diversion,
as well as a means of support, to an extremely serious concern for the issues
which were splitting the kingdom of France. This was an unusual role for
a French woman of the period; it is less surprising when one recalls the
political activities of another Italian woman of the late fourteenth century,
Saint Catherine of Siena ( 1347-1380), whose reputation must surely have
been known to Christine and who may to some extent have served as
her model.