Synopses & Reviews
Of all the new developments in literary theory, feminism has proved to be the most widely influential, leading to an expansion of the traditional English canon in all periods of study. This book aims to make the work of Renaissance women writers in English better known to general and academic readers so as to strengthen the case for their future inclusion in the Renaissance literary canon.
This lively book surveys women writers in the sixteenth century and early seventeenth centuries. Its selection is vast, historically representative, and original, taking examples from twenty different, relatively unknown authors in all genres of writing, including poetry, fiction, religious works, letters and journals, translation, and books on childcare. It establishes new contexts for the debate about women as writers within the period and suggests potential intertextual connections with works by well-known male authors of the same time.
Individual authors and works are given concise introductions, with both modern and historical critical analysis, setting them in a theoretical and historicised context. All texts are made readily accessible through modern spelling and punctuation, on-the-page annotation and headnotes. The substantial, up-to-date bibliography provides a source for further study and research.
Synopsis
A revised edition of a definitive anthology of women's writing in the Renaissance.
- Contains specially designed annotations to suit the needs of the undergraduate student
- Focuses on the key issue of femininity in Renaissance England
- Contains a new introduction which brings the book right into the 21st century
About the Author
Randall Martin is professor of English, at the University of New Brunswick, Canada.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Preface to the Second Edition by Christina Luckyj
Introduction
1. PREAMBLE: WOMENS SELF-IMAGE AS WRITERS
Margaret Tyler
Anne Dowriche
Rachel Speght
Elizabeth Jocelin
2. PROSE
Katherine Parr, Queen of England
Anne Askew
Jane Anger
Elizabeth Grymeston
Dorothy Leigh
Rachel Speght
Elizabeth Caldwell
Elizabeth Clinton
Elizabeth Cary
3. AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Margaret, Lady Hoby
Grace, Lady Mildmay
Mary Ward
Lady Anne Clifford
4. VERSE
Isabella Whitney
Mary (Sidney) Herbert
Anne Dowriche
Aemilia Lanyer
Lady Mary Wroth
Rachel Speght
Textual notes
Bibliography