Women and Literature in Britain, 1500-1700

Description

This is the first comprehensive introduction to the works and social contexts of women writers in early modern Britain, a paradoxical period when it was considered unfeminine to write and yet women were the authors of many poems, translations, conduct books, autobiographies, plays, pamphlets and other texts. Leading scholars examine the history of women's role in and access to literary culture, and the work of individual women writers. A unique chronology offers a woman-centered perspective on historical and literary events, and there is a guide to further reading.

"At last, a comprehensive collection of essays about early modern women that demonstrates the wide range of women's writing and reading practices during the period, from scientific discourse to commercial drama, from books of advice to accounts of prophecy. ...it offers a rich tapestry of critical approaches and textual information." Margaret J. M. Ezell, Journal of English & Germanic Philology "This book would be extremely useful in undergraduate courses, as the editors include a chronology of events important to women, an extensve bibliography, and a wealth of historical and literary information." Signs