Literary Criticism & Collections, General, History, Reference 

Part of a series which looks at the involvement of women in various aspects of history from the late 18th century to the present day and explores a particular theme through documentary evidence, quotations and contemporary pictures, this text seeks to explore women's contributions to literature in Britain. A variety of women's writings is examined, from social commentaries, diaries and journalism to poetry and fiction. The author considers the reasons why in the past it was so difficult for women to write and have their work appreciated, and goes on to look at the work of prominent and lesser-known writers in conjunction with the social and moral climate in which they lived. The work of the early playwright Aphra Behn is considered, along with the work of the "Blue Stockings" including Elizabeth Carter, Fanny Burnley and Mary Wollstonecraft. The writers of social commentaries for the poor are investigated along with the contribution that women made to the development of the novel. Poetry, journalism and magazine writing, as well as accounts of ordinary life through diaries, show the diversity of women's skills. The experimentation by writers in the early 20th century is outlined, as is the influence of feminism on modern women writers. The book concludes with a look at the work of present day women writers, their achievements in winning literary awards, and the foundation of women-only publishers. Veronica Doubleday has also written "Three Women of Herat". - from Amzon