Women's Writing in Nineteenth-Century France

The most complete critical survey to date of women's literature in nineteenth-century France.

Alison Finch (Author)

9780521024549, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 9 March 2006

336 pages, 18 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.3 x 2 cm, 0.511 kg

' … a very readable and immensely useful book.' Modern Language Review

This is the most complete critical survey to date of women's literature in nineteenth-century France. Alison Finch's wide-ranging analysis of some 60 writers reflects the rich diversity of a century that begins with Mme de Staël's cosmopolitanism and ends with Rachilde's perverse eroticism. Finch's study brings out the contribution not only of major figures like George Sand but also of many other talented and important writers who have been unjustly rejected, including Flora Tristan, Claire de Duras and Delphine de Girardin. Her account opens new perspectives on the interchange between male and female authors and on women's literary traditions during the period. She discusses popular and serious writing: fiction, verse, drama, memoirs, journalism, feminist polemic, historiography, travelogues, children's tales, religious and political thought - often brave, innovative texts linked to women's social and legal status in an oppressive society. Extensive reference features include bibliographical guides to texts and writers.

Acknowledgements
1. Prejudice and reassessment
2. Conditions for women writers
Part I. The Early Nineteenth Century: The Age of Napoleon and the Aftermath of Revolution (1800–29): 3. Overview, 1800–29
4. Foremothers and Germaine de Staël
5. Writing about history: Henriette de La Tour du Pin
6. Mad matriarchs and other family members: Sophie Cottin
7. Rank and disadvantage: Claire de Duras
8. The invisible women of French theatre
Part II. Mid-century: George Sand and her Contemporaries (1830–69): 9. Overview, 1830–69
10. George Sand, presiding genius
11. Confidence and the woman writer: Amable Tastu and Sophie Ulliac-Trémadeure
12. Shame, embarrassment and Sophie's misfortunes: the comtesse de Ségur
13. Adventure and travel: Léonie d'Aunet and Flora Tristan
14. The journalist: Delphine de Girardin
15. Feeling and poetic technique: Marceline Desbordes-Valmore
16. Women and politics
Part III. Naturalism and Symbolism: The Beginnings of a New Era (1870–99): 17. Overview, 1870–99
18. A new boldness: Marcell Tinayre, Louise Ackermann and Gyp
19. Experiment: naturalism, symbolism and Marie Krysinska
20. Cruelty to humans and animals: Louise Michel
21. Rachilde and the horror of gender confusion
22. Postscript: England
23. Legacies
Appendices
Notes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900 [DSBF]