A Man's Skin

In Renaissance Italy, Bianca, a young lady from a good family, is ofmarriage age. Her parents find her a fiancé to their liking: Giovanni, arich merchant, young and pleasant. The wedding looks set to go smoothly eventhough Bianca can't hide her disappointment at having to marry a man she knowsnothing about.

But before the marriage, she learns the secret held andbequeathed by the women of her family for generations: a "man's skin"! Bydonning it, Bianca becomes "Lorenzo" and enjoys all the attributes of a youngman of stunning beauty. She can now visit the world of men incognito and get toknow her fiancé in his natural environment. In her male skin, Biancafrees herself from the limits imposed on women and discovers love andsexuality.

The moral of the Renaissance then acts as a mirror to that ofour century and poses several questions: why should women have a differentsexuality from that of men? Why should their pleasure and freedom be the objectof contempt and coercion? Finally, how can morality be the instrument of bothsevere and unconscious domination?

Tackling universal themes such asgender, sexuality, LGBTQ+, compassion, religion, and morality through acaptivating and subtle fable, Hubert and Zanzim brilliantly question ourrelationship to gender and sexuality... but not only that. By mixing religionand sex, morality and humor, nobility and outspokenness, A Man's Skininvites us both to the liberation of morals and to the mad and noble quest forlove.

This edition includes a lesson plan and discussion guide.

Translated by Ivanka Hahnenberger.