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November 9, 2009
Book|Report
Invisible hands: The lives within 15th century convent walls

By Dana Goldman

For more than a decade, Emory history professor Sharon Strocchia has poured over the vast archival records of 15th century convents in Florence, Italy, enthralled with how the nuns within talked about their lives, their vocations, and the for-pay work that kept the convents solvent. Now that research has culminated in “Nuns and Nunneries in Renaissance Florence” (John Hopkins University Press, 2009).

Listen to Strocchia talk about the huge shift in convent life — and populations — that took place between the 15th and 16th centuries.

Excerpt of the new book “Nuns and Nunneries in Renaissance Florence"
Strocchia discusses the 16th century religious backlash that took place against nuns’ contacts with the secular world.