Women's Writing in English
Early Modern England
Published on 7. March 2005
Book
Hardback
480 pages
978-0-8020-8710-2 (ISBN)
Description
In this introduction to the diversity and scope of the writing by women in England from the beginning of the sixteenth century to the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Patricia Demers discusses the creative realities of women writers' accomplishments and the cultural conditions under which they wrote. There were deep suspicions and restrictions surrounding the education of women during this period, and thus the contributions of women to literature, and to the print industry itself, are largely unknown. This wide-ranging examination of the genres of early modern women's writing embraces translation (from Latin, Greek, and French) in the fields of theological discourse, romance and classical tragedy, original meditations and prayers, letters and diaries, poetry, closet drama, advice manuals, and prophecies and polemics. A close study of six major authors - Mary Sidney, Aemilia Lanyer, Elizabeth Tanfield Cary, Lady Mary Wroth, Margaret Cavendish, and Katherine Philips - explores their work as poets, dramatists, and romantic fiction writers. Demers invites readers to savour the subtlety and daring with which these women authors made writing an expressly social craft.
Reviews / Votes
"'In this clearly written book, Patricia Demers provides an informative analysis of how early modern women writers contributed to the structure of the period's world of thought and demonstrates a wide breadth of scholarship in the area. Demers writes with energy and vitality, and the large historical range she surveys provides coverage not always seen in studies of this kind. Students being introduced to the field will find in this book a wealth of valuable information and clear, direct analysis while more experienced scholars will appreciate the opportunity of finding references to less familiar authors and forms of writing.' Linda Vecchi, Department of English Language and Literature, Memorial University of Newfoundland"More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
With dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 225 mm
Width: 147 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
600 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8020-8710-2 (9780802087102)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Patricia Demers is a professor in the Department of English at the University of Alberta.
Content
Preface Acknowledgements 1. Studying Early Modern Women Writers 2. Women in Early Modern England Chiselling the Image, Unwinding the Rhetoric Reading Early Modern Women's Writing Educating Women Praising and Blaming Women Wiving and Thriving Childbearing 3. The Genres of Early Modern Women's Writing Translation Margaret Beaufort, Margaret Roper, Elizabeth Tudor, Mary Bassett Jane Lumley, the Cooke Sisters, Anne Vaughan Lock, Margaret Tyler, Mary Sidney Herbert Theological Debate, Romantic Intrigue, and Classical Tragedy: Elizabeth Cary, Judith Man, Katherine Philips Meditations and Testimonials Prayers Letters and Diaries Poetry Elizabethan poets: Isabella Whitney, Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, Anne Vaughan lock, Lady Mary Sidney Herbert, Anne Dowriche, Elizabeth Melville Esther Inglis and Elizabeth Jane Weston in the Republic of Letters Jacobean polemical Talents: Aemilia Lanyer, Bathsua Reginald, Rachel Speght, Mary Wroth Caroline, protectorate, and Restoration Poets' Complication of Early Modern Selfhood: Diana Primrose, Mary Fage, An Collins, 'Eliza', Elizabeth Major, Gertrude Thimelby, Anne Bradstreet, Mary Cavendish, Katherine Philips Drama and the Dramatic 'Closet' Drama: translations, Adaptations, Original Creations Mothers' Advice Books: Elizabeth Grymeston, Dorothy Leigh, Elizabeth Clinton, Elizabeth Joscelin, Elizabeth Richardson Prophecies and Polemics, Petitions and Missionary Accounts: Radical Women and Godly Zeal 4. Six Major Authors Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke (1561-1621) Aemilia Lanyer (1569-1645) Elizabeth Tanfiled Cary, Viscountess of Falkland (1585-1639) Lady Mary Wroth (1587-1653) Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle (1623-1673) Katherine Philips, the Matchless Orinda (1632-1664)