Includes bibliographical references (pages 515-562) and index.
Contents
A new literature springs up in the new world -- Revolution : women's rights and women's writing -- Their native land -- Finding a form -- Masterpieces and mass markets -- Slavery, race, and women's writing -- The Civil War -- The coming woman -- American sibyls -- New women -- The golden morrow -- Against women's writing : Wharton and Cather -- You might as well live -- The Great Depression -- The 1940s : World War II and after -- The 1950s : the three faces of Eve -- The 1960s : live or die -- The 1970s : the will to change -- The 1980s : on the jury -- The 1990s : anything she wants.
Summary
In a narrative of immense scope and fascination--spanning nearly 400 years and brimming with Showalter's characteristic wit and incisive opinions--readers are introduced to more than 250 female writers, both famous and little known.
