The Cambridge Companion to Women's Writing in Britain, 1660–1789

Essays by leading scholars provide a comprehensive overview of women writers and their work in Restoration and eighteenth-century Britain.

Catherine Ingrassia (Edited by)

9781107013162, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 23 April 2015

290 pages
22.9 x 1.7 x 15.2 cm, 0.52 kg

'Overall, The Cambridge Companion to Women's Writing in Britain, 1660–1789 is a valuable pedagogical and reference resource for both students and scholars of British women writers and of long-eighteenth-century literature and culture.' Suzanne L. Barnett, Ideas, Aesthetics, and Inquiries in the Early Modern Era

Women writers played a central role in the literature and culture of eighteenth-century Britain. Featuring essays on female writers and genres by leading scholars in the field, this Companion introduces readers to the range, significance and complexity of women's writing across multiple genres in Britain between 1660 and 1789. Divided into two parts, the Companion first discusses women's participation in print culture, featuring essays on topics such as women and popular culture, women as professional writers, women as readers and writers, and place and publication. Additionally, part one explores the ways women writers crossed generic boundaries. The second part contains chapters on many of the key genres in which women wrote including poetry, drama, fiction (early and later), history, the ballad, periodicals, and travel writing. The Companion also provides an introduction surveying the state of the field, an integrated chronology, and a guide to further reading.

Introduction Catherine Ingrassia
Part I. Women in Print Culture: 1. Women as readers and writers Mark Towsey
2. The professional female writer Betty Schellenberg
3. Place and publication Sarah Prescott
4. Women and popular culture Paula R. Backscheider
5. Genre crossings Kathryn R. King
Part II. Genres, Modes, and Forms: 6. Poetry David Shuttleton
7. Drama Felicity Nussbaum
8. History Rivka Swenson
9. Satire Melinda A. Rabb
10. Early fiction Nicola Parsons
11. Later fiction Katherine Binhammer
12. Travel writing Harriet Guest
13. Ballads Ruth Perry
14. Periodical writing Mary Waters
Guide to further reading.

Subject Areas: Gender studies: women [JFSJ1], Literary studies: general [DSB]