This volume focuses on the literary and artistic exploration of female friendship in various geographical contexts, spanning the centuries from the medieval period until the present. The essays address the intense female bonding in world literature as a universal human need for intimacy, sense of belonging, and purpose. The main focus is on the reevaluation of friendships between women, which have been traditionally less epitomized than those between men. The authors of this volume demonstrate how the emotional unions of women offer compelling insights to various historical and contemporary societies, helping us understand gender relations, traditions, family life, and community values.

Contributions by: Ida Day, Michael Eskin, Victor Fet, Joanne Findon, Melissa Garr, Adriana Guarro Romero, Araceli Hernández-Laroche, Anya Jabour, Susan Petrilli, Ivy Schweitzer, Natalie M. Van Deusen, Alexandra Verini, Kathleen J. Waites
Foreword by: Ann Jefferson