A History of Feminist Literary Criticism

Description

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.

Gill Plain is Professor of English at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. Susan Sellers is Professor of English at the University of St Andrews, Scotland.

'Written with a consistently lucid and engaging tone, it accomplishes a dual goal in providing a compelling introduction for students of the discipline and putting forward a range of fresh intellectual insights.' Christine Lees, The Times Literary Supplement 'In fact, there could be no stronger testament to the continued relevance and importance of feminist literary criticism than this fresh and up-to-date examination of women's writing, gender and politics from the Middle Ages to the present.' Lisa Regan, Feminist Theory '[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