The Routledge Research Companion to Early Modern Spanish Women Writers does exactly what its title states: it acts as a research companion for any scholar of Spain’s early modern period. More specifically, the volume provides an in-depth and up-to-date overview of early modern Spanish women writers and their works. The editors, Nieves Baranda, and Anne J. Cruz, have compiled twenty-two articles, all written by scholars who are leaders in their respective fields. These articles focus on early modern Spanish women writers as a collective force that, together, contributed to the literary and extra-literary genres of their time. These women published poetry, prose, and plays, and were of varying social classes. Some were religious and wrote inside the walls of a convent, while secular writing occurred mainly in public or in the space of the home.

The purpose of the volume is to discuss women’s writings “not as singular occurrences within a predominantly male-dominated literary canon, but instead as women’s collaborative efforts in successfully forging their own discursive space” (1). A Spanish version of the volume is also being published simultaneously. To achieve their goals the editors have organized the chapters into six thematic sections, each of which includes articles on issues or topics related to women writers in early modern Spain. In doing this, the book deviates from more traditional scholarship where the focus is on individual women writers and how their works compare to the male writers of the time. In addition, the Companion provides general information on who the different women writers were, what obstacles they faced, and what critical studies have been done on them and their works. The volume also provides ideas for future research in the field.

Scholars interested in conducting this research will find the organization of this collection useful and manageable. As mentioned above, the volume is organized into six distinct sections. Section 1, “Women’s Worlds,” discusses the social, cultural, and historical background of the early modern world that allowed women to become writers. This includes articles on social classes and education. Section 2, “Conventual Spaces,” analyzes varying works by nuns, which include theater, poetry, and nonliterary writings. Section 3, “Secular Literature,” provides an overview of nonreligious women writers and the strong impact that their writings made in poetry, narrative, and theater. This section discusses now well-known women writers such as María de Zayas and Ana Caro and their importance in appropriating genres previously attributed only to male writers. Section 4, “Women in the Public Sphere,” examines the circulation of women’s texts in society. Section 5, “Private Circles,” considers women’s writings done in the private space of the home and in the enclosed atmosphere of the convent. This section also includes a chapter relating to women emigrants to the New World. Last, this discussion of Iberian women’s travels continues in the sixth section, “Women Travelers.” Here the contributors examine what motivated women to travel in the first place and analyze their experiences abroad. In addition, the articles address how these international experiences helped create translations of women’s texts into various languages.

All in all, this research companion provides a comprehensive and succinct summary of the contributions of women writers in the early modern period in Spain. The volume is an important tool for future research on the interconnections between these women and on their works. Much is still unknown about many of the women who wrote in the early modern period and this compendium is a great starting point for scholars in this field. It is a welcome addition to the study of women’s writing and will contribute to a better understanding of the global impact that these women have had and continue to have.