Product Description

An anthology of women's letters, studying the tradition of female letter-writing from the 12th century to the present. One of the few "allowable" forms of written expression open to women until the 18th century - even Jane Austen at first pretended her drawing-room scribbling was letters rather than the novel she was really working on - these private letters detail their daily lives, their sorrows and joys, small achievements, and the great rites of passage of birth, death and marriage. Both entertaining and informative, this study provides an insight into past women's lives and should be a valuable historical resource, in particular for historians and those interested in women's studies.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #305547 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Customer Reviews

800 Years of Women's Letters - a welcome anthology
'800 years of Women's letters' by Olga Kenyon is a truly fascinating and comprehensive study of women's letters reveals the nature of women's lives from the twelfth to the twentieth century. Entertaining and informative the book covers a geographic span from France to America and down to Mary Kingsley travelling in the Congo. There are many letters written here in Britain, from Jane Austen et al to contemporary writers Fay Weldon and Elaine Feinstein, including also the first female letter known from Roman Britain celebrating women's friendship.

Olga Kenyon's intention is to show that women's letters are a valid form of literature, despite still being relatively neglected, compared to poetry and novels, and she achieves this admirably. Taking account of the feminist approach, studying the older letters for their difference from the present also helps toward our understanding both of the past and of gender formation.

The book is divided into eleven main sections; each section includes an insightful introduction by Olga Kenyon. The letters cover such topics as: How women view their roles, Love and Sexual Passion, Work, War and Alleviating suffering and Political skills.

There are for instance letters from Aphra Benn, (the first professional woman writer in England) forced to ask for money to cover her expenses; Mrs Gaskell considers the balance between housekeeping duties and individual development; Lady Mary Wortley Montagu writes of on her first visit to a Turkish Bath in 1717 (she is perhaps the most interesting letter writer in the English language, though no books of hers were in print when this book was published in 1992). Many letters from less well known women are included such as Isabella Bird whose letters home give an informative view of life for new settlers in the American West of 1873.

These letters reveal honesty, accurate analysis, compassion, humility and love; they give us a new type of history. No previous anthology has presented such rich material of equal interest to historians and the general reader alike.

Quiet and private voices
I bought this book ( in fact I bought 5 altogether) as a present / presents for women who I love and respect. They have all been thrilled by the quality and range of the extracts chosen. I myself, think the forward is superbly written and wonderfully thought provoking.
A great book to own or to give to anyone who enjoys being inspired by the reflections of people from other ages .

Engrossing Anthology
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In this engrossing anthology, the first truly comprehensive study of women's letters, Olga kenyon explores the tradition of female letter-writing from the 12th century to the presetn day.

One of the few 'allowable' forms of written expressioin open to women until the 18th century.

these private letters deal in daily life, their sorrows and joys, small achievments and the great rites of passage of birth, death and marriage.

Includes: Heloise, Margaret Paston, Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, Florence Nightingale, Vita Sackville-West, Virginia Woolf, Jane Austen and many many more...

A Must for any collection!

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