A History of Feminist Literary Criticism

This book offers a comprehensive guide to the history and development of feminist literary criticism and a lively reassessment of the main issues.

Gill Plain (Edited by), Susan Sellers (Edited by)

9781107609471, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 22 October 2012

366 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.51 kg

'[The text] is designed to serve an introductory function, but goes beyond acquainting readers with the major strands and debates of feminist literary criticism. … Indeed, this work can serve as a reference and provide points for further debate to more advanced students and scholars.' Bonnie Kime Scott, Review of English Studies

Feminism has transformed the academic study of literature, fundamentally altering the canon of what is taught and setting new agendas for literary analysis. In this authoritative history of feminist literary criticism, leading scholars chart the development of the practice from the Middle Ages to the present. The first section of the book explores protofeminist thought from the Middle Ages onwards, and analyses the work of pioneers such as Wollstonecraft and Woolf. The second section examines the rise of second-wave feminism and maps its interventions across the twentieth century. A final section examines the impact of postmodernism on feminist thought and practice. This book offers a comprehensive guide to the history and development of feminist literary criticism and a lively reassessment of the main issues and authors in the field. It is essential reading for all students and scholars of feminist writing and literary criticism.

Introduction Gill Plain and Susan Sellers
Part I. Pioneers and Protofeminism: Introduction Gill Plain
1. Medieval feminist criticism Carolyn Dinshaw
2. Feminist criticism in the Renaissance and seventeenth century Helen Wilcox
3. Mary Wollstonecraft and her legacy Susan Manly
4. The feminist criticism of Virginia Woolf Jane Goldman
5. Simone de Beauvoir and the demystification of woman Elizabeth Fallaize
Part II. Creating a Feminist Literary Criticism: Introduction Gill Plain and Susan Sellers
6. Literary representations of women Mary Eagleton
7. A history of women's writing Helen Carr
8. Autobiography and personal criticism Linda Anderson
9. Black feminist criticism Arlene Keizer
10. Lesbian feminist criticism Caroline Gonda
11. Men in feminism Calvin Thomas
Part III. Poststructuralism and Beyond: Introduction Gill Plain and Susan Sellers
12. Feminist criticism and poststructuralism Claire Colebrook
13. Feminist criticism and psychoanalysis Madelon Sprengnether
14. French feminist criticism and writing the body Judith Still
15. Postcolonial feminist criticism Chris Weedon
16. Feminist criticism and queer theory Heather Love
17. Feminist criticism and technologies of the body Stacy Gillis
Postscript: flaming feminism? Susan Gubar
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Feminism & feminist theory [JFFK], Literature: history & criticism [DS]