Displacements of Power : Readings of the Cent nouvelles nouvelles

Written anonymously around 1460 for the Burgundian court of Philippe le Bon, the Cent nouvelles nouvelles fits loosely within the traditions of Boccaccio and Chaucer, but also reflects, in subtle ways, the tastes, preoccupations, and fascinations of the fifteenth-century audience for whom it was intended. Seven of the most interesting and problematic nouvelles have been selected for this study. All represent some measure of manipulation and/or deceit, involving either an attempt to subvert authority, to reestablish control, or to create a new alliance, and thus all carry a certain political resonance. The intent of the study is to provide an open-ended and open-minded reading for each of the seven nouvelles. The conclusion seeks to identify several of the most prominent unifying patterns.