Discusses women's issues in the book `Corinne ou l'Italie,' by Germaine de Stael. De Stael's concern with the status of women; Challenge issued to female stereotypes; Defiant and self-affirmative spirit in which the book was written; Tension between what is challenged and what is accepted as constituting the hidden drama of the book; Tragedy of a woman in genius defeated by narrow social conventions and expectations.