This work investigates the historical existence and cultural impact of women who composed poetry in Latin between the first century B.C. and the eighteenth century A.D. Jane Stevenson, a scholar of early modern literature and history, utilizes extensive archival research conducted across twelve countries to challenge the prevailing academic assumption that women were excluded from elite, educated culture prior to the nineteenth century. By documenting over three hundred female poets, she provides a new framework for understanding gendered access to intellectual and literary spheres throughout history.

Scholars and historians recognize this volume as a foundational reference that effectively dismantles long-standing myths regarding women's lack of access to classical education. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous, evidence-based challenge to traditional historiography.