The Feminine and the Sacred

Is there anything sacred that can simultaneously be considered strictly feminine? Two of the leaders of European feminist thought investigate stories of African rites, Catholic saints, Jewish traditions and psychological case studies in an overarching exploration of how women throughout the world cope with forces beyond their control or understanding. In an exchange of letters, they consider a range of emotional dispositions with reference to contemporary figures including Madonna, the late Princess of Wales, Mother Teresa and Eva Peron.

'This exchange of letters offers all the suspense of a debate and, at the same time, the warmth - in both senses - of a conversation. Clément and Kristeva develop and double back on their respective positions passionately, but also generously, and without closure. In consequence, both move a little, echoing and differing by turns, as they discuss political resistance, mysticism, bisexuality, motherhood, love and death. This book is evidence that dissension can produce brilliant insights. I had difficulty in putting it down.' -

Professor Catherine Belsey, Cardiff University

The...book is...exhilirating. I opened The Feminine and the Sacred with no great expectation that it would prove illuminating. I was wrong.' - Richard Poole, The Welsh Internationalist

'This exciting and passionate book confronts two controversial topics and brings them into creative juxtaposition...rich correspondence shows that there is still a great deal of mileage in the notion of sacredness, and that women can play an important role in its restoration.' - Karen Armstrong, The Independent

Autorentext
CATHERINE CLÉMENT is a prolific critic, essayist and novelist, based in Paris. She has published extensively and recently co-authored work with Helene Cixous.

JULIA KRISTEVA is one of France's leading contemporary literary figures. Philosopher, practising psychoanalyst and professor of linguistics at the University of Paris, she is the author and subject of numerous works that have been published to international acclaim.