In the year of grace 1396, Christine de Pizan is a young widow living in a tower near the Seine. Since her husband’s death 6 years before, she has been living a hardscrabble existence, struggling to support her aged mother and 2 small children as rumors swirl about the state of the king’s sanity. Meanwhile, the cursed English threaten the weakened kingdom. Seeking to ease her loneliness and sorrow, Christine writes poetry in a delicate dance blending form and emotion. After an unsuccessful journey in search of funds at the Chambre des Comptes, overwrought and hungry, she collapses and is helped by a good Samaritan, who turns out to be Eustache Deschamps, sergeant-at-arms to the king and renowned court poet. He insists on escorting her home, where he learns of her difficulties and of her writing. Christine dismisses her work as crude scribbles, but Deschamps is intrigued. Moved to help Christine and her family, he arranges for her to work copying manuscripts in the King’s Library at the Louvre. Feeling obligated to repay his kindness, Christine agrees to read some of her verses one evening at Deschamps’s house, where she meets Father John Gerson, doctor of theology at the University of Paris. Stunned to learn that they are impressed and enthusiastic about her poems, she resists when they encourage her to read in a poetry competition at court, saying that she writes for herself alone. Riding home, she is thinking of the strange turn her life has taken and of the role God’s Providence plays in it when she is suddenly beset by robbers. Once home, she’s scolded by her mother, who says that Fortune’s wheel is broken when it comes to their family. Christine says she may know of a way they can mend it. Supported by Deschamps and Father John, Christine begins reading her verses at court competitions, where she immediately attracts the interest of powerful nobles, particularly the king’s brother Louis d’Orléans and eventually Queen Isabeau herself, who become valued patrons. Although buoyed by her success, as the only woman poet at court she also attracts the jealous, angry attention of royal secretaries John de Montreuil and Gontier Col. Reading the books in the king’s library, Christine continues the education begun by her father when she was a child. As she labors to understand complex concepts such as the difference between Providence and Fortune, she finds a skilled, kindly teacher in the form of Philippe de Mézières, who helps her not only intellectually but also guides her around the many pitfalls at court. Christine finds herself in conflict with many of the ideas current at the time. This comes to a head in a quarrel waged through letters with Montreuil and Col over their admiration for the Romance of the Rose, which she finds salacious and misogynistic. Meanwhile, she becomes furious with Deschamps over his ugly, hateful portrayal of women in his poem The Mirror for Marriage, and she breaks off contact with him. Spurred by the misogynistic tenor found in many works at the time, Christine continues writing, gradually transitioning from verse to prose to express her support of women of all ages and conditions. She also adds several women to her circle of friends and admirers, particularly the young dauphine, Marguerite de Nevers. As Christine gains confidence and financial stability, other forces threaten her and the survival of the kingdom as the struggle for power between Louis d’Orléans and Philippe de Bourgogne intensifies. Observing this, Christine begins writing works on public policy, leadership, and chivalry. Christine receives a commission from the duke de Bourgogne to write a history of his brother King Charles V’s reign, but he dies before she finishes it. She presents the book to Duke John de Berry, sole surviving brother of Bourgogne and King Charles, and he also becomes a valued ally and patron. The new duke de Bourgogne, known as John the Fearless, continues his father’s struggle with the duke d’Orléans which only escalates when he is assassinated by a group of Bourgogne’s men. The situation becomes even more desperate with the accession of English king Henry V, who is determined to win France by force of arms. A long period of conflict ensues with the queen trying always to mediate for peace and to keep her children safe, especially the young dauphin Louis, but the battle lines are drawn between Bourgignons and supporters of the young duke Charles d’Orléans, battling to obtain justice for his murdered father. Although Christine helps the queen whenever possible, she wonders what purpose it serves when men always resort to violence. In the end, disheartened and exhausted by the endless, mindless carnage, Christine flees Paris ahead of a ravening mob, alerted by Montreuil and Col, who give their lives to assure her safety. She swims her horse out of the city, then rides to a friend’s manor house, where she is cared for until she’s well enough to travel to the convent at Poissy, where she has decided to take refuge. She lives there quietly for several years until a letter arrives from Father John, telling her of the miraculous appearance of a young woman named Joan who is leading the French armies to victory against the cursed English. Inspired by Joan’s courage, Christine writes one last poem in praise of the young woman.