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Translation of the Breviary Hymns and Female Readership in Poland-Lithuania in the 17th Century

Sat, December 2, 4:00 to 5:45pm EST (4:00 to 5:45pm EST), Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Floor: 3rd Floor, Meeting Room 309

Abstract

In 1598, Stanisław Grochowski, a Polish priest and poet, published his translation of the breviary hymns and sequences. It became a best-seller: until 1611, there were at least five editions of this work. In my paper, I will discuss the reasons for the popularity of this book. An examination of the inventories of the libraries of the Catholic nunneries in Poland and Lithuania reveals many copies of Grochowski’s translation. It might suggest that its primary readers were women. I will analyse the translation and present the cultural context that can confirm this working hypothesis.

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