Enjoyable, easy-to-read study of educated women in the Renaissance, focusing on Vittoria Colonna and the courtesan Tullia d'Aragona as case studies. The author is particularly interested in how the humanist culture of the Renaissance empowered women, and how the Counter-Reformation quickly took away that power. Servadio's work is detailed, with allusions ranging from Roman religious practice to La Traviata; she is clearly passionate about her subject. Unfortunately the book is let down by occasionally poor grammar and sloppy editing, not to mention factual errors, and a number of questionable sweeping statements that would have been better backed up with specific examples. These shortcomings prevent the book from having the kind of academic integrity that it seems to want to have - but it doesn't prevent it being a very enjoyable examination of a lesser-known aspect of Renaissance history. Read and enjoy - but don't take all of what it says as gospel. ( )