Kitchen examines several texts - lives of both male and female saints, by authors of both sexes - from 6th century France. The result is to cast doubt on the assumption that male authors were ignorant of, or hostile to, specifically female concerns. It also raises methodological problems with the assignation of certain texts to female authors. This is an important although controversial work for feminist as well as medieval studies. Recommended for upper-division undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and researchers.