Women’s History Month is the perfect time to discover the influential female voices that have shaped literature for generations.
These authors not only wrote compelling stories, but they also provide deep insights into the challenges, triumphs, and everyday lives of women. From Elizabeth Gaskell’s keen social observations to Jane Austen’s timeless wit, these authors continue to resonate today.
Why Read Classic Women Writers?
These authors, among many others, broke barriers and redefined literature. By reading these classics, we honor their legacies and gain perspectives that remain relevant today.
This Women’s History Month, immerse yourself in the words of these literary pioneers and experience the power of their voices firsthand.
Coming of Age Classics
Women writers have long captured the complexities of growing up, crafting deeply personal yet universally relatable stories of self-discovery, resilience, and transformation. Check out these four coming of age favorites!
The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather
Born in a small Colorado town, Thea Kronborg's aspirations to be a famed musician makes it difficult for her to fit in. With the reputation of being different and strange, Thea has a challenging time getting along with her siblings and peers, though her mother and Aunt are supportive of her dreams. When Thea's piano instructor is run out of town over a scandal, Thea takes over his business at age fifteen. She is also forced by her father to play the organ at their church because he believes this new devotion to a job would make her less pious. Despite her new jobs and outlet for her musical ability, Thea feels unsatisfied in Colorado, but when tragedy strikes, she finally gets an opportunity to chase her dreams. After the death of a local conductor that had been enamored by her, Thea inherits enough money to pursue a formal music education in Chicago. During her piano training, and with the help of some of her Chicago friends and mentors, Thea realizes that she has an impressive singing voice. After feeling inspired by a visit to the orchestra, Thea decides to pursue a career as an opera singer. With a new dream and drive, Thea struggles to achieve her goals without compromising her values and independence.
Willa Cather's The Song of the Lark breaks the conventions of its time with the depiction of an independent woman protagonist with aspirations outside of the home. Cather also challenged the typical depiction of small-town country life by presenting realities such as the common uniformity and intolerance sometimes expressed within rural communities. The Song of the Lark remains to be a fascinating look into 19th century rural life, with an unadulterated view on the journey of an artist.
The Professor by Charlotte Brontë
The Professor (1857) is English writer Charlotte Brontë's first novel. Rejected by several publishing houses, Brontë shelved the novel in order to write her masterpiece Jane Eyre (1847). After her death, The Professor was edited by Brontë's widower, Arthur Bell Nichols, who saw that the novel was published posthumously. Based on Brontë's experience as a student and teacher in Brussels--which similarly inspired her novel Villette--The Professor is an underappreciated early work from one of English literature's most important writers.
After rejecting a life as a clergyman, William Crimsworth goes to work as a clerk for his brother Edward, a successful businessman. Although he excels, his brother grows jealous of his ability and intelligence, abusing and belittling him until he is forced to quit. Disappointed, he accepts a job at a boarding school in Belgium where, mentored by the kind Monsieur Pelet, William flourishes as a professor. When news of his work reaches Mademoiselle Reuter, a local headmistress at a school for girls, she offers him a position, and William joins her staff. He begins to grow suspicious, however, when he overhears Reuter speaking about him with Pelet and discovers that the pair are engaged to be married. As he begins to second-guess their kindness, he falls in love with Frances, a young teacher-in-training. Harboring her own secret affection for William, Mademoiselle Reuter decides she must dismiss Frances if she is to maintain her control of the young Englishman. Charlotte Brontë's The Professor is a novel of romance, jealousy, and gothic mystery, an early and promising work by one of Victorian England's most prominent writers.
Camilla; Or, a Picture of Youth by Frances Burney
Camilla; Or, A Picture of Youth (1796) is a novel by Frances Burney. Both satirical and serious, comedic and Gothic, Burney's novel helped establish her reputation as one of the most popular writers of eighteenth-century England. Referred to in Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey (1803) and Maria Edgeworth's Belinda (1801), Camilla; Or, A Picture of Youth was a popular and critically acclaimed novel that served as inspiration for some of the leading literary figures of the early nineteenth century. After years of silence, Mr. Augustus Tyrold moves to the rural estate of Cleves to be near his brother Sir Hugh, who lives at a local parsonage. Lonely and crippled, Sir Hugh hopes to act as a mentor to his nieces and nephews. He takes a liking to Camilla, the middle daughter, and endeavors to make her his heiress while raising her in his own household. Although initially cautious, Mr. and Mrs. Tyrold eventually send Camilla to live at Sir Hugh's home, where her uncle decides to host her tenth birthday party. When a lapse in judgement leads to Camilla's younger sister contracting smallpox, Sir Hugh attempts to remedy the situation by naming Eugenia his heiress instead. Living with her uncle, Eugenia enjoys an unusually thorough education under the tutelage of Dr. Orkbourne, a classical scholar who quickly takes to the enthusiastic and intelligent young girl. Meanwhile, Camilla becomes entangled in a love triangle involving her father's ward Edgar and her cousin Indiana. Despite the mutual affection between Edgar and Camilla, Indiana has entertained the thought of marrying the handsome, wealthy man from a young age, when Sir Hugh thought it prudent to predict their future marriage. As Sir Hugh's plans for the Tyrold youths meet increasingly serious obstacles, and as debts threaten the wellbeing of the entire family, Camilla is forced to navigate a world in which decisions seem always to be made in her interest by those with their own in mind. This edition of Frances Burney's Camilla; Or, A Picture of Youth is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.
Emma by Jane Austen
From what acclaimed novelist Jane Austen wrongly suspected was the least-liked of her protagonists comes a character unlike any other. Emma is the story of a fiercely independent young woman who defines the boundaries of what a conventional lady was supposed to resemble in 19th century Britain.
Emma Woodhouse is a bit of an anomaly in her sleepy town of Highbury. Curious, intelligent, and spoiled rotten, Emma is a young lady whose nose is always in other people's business. With nothing but time on her hands, Emma delights in the chaos of her good intentions gone awry. With an inclination towards matchmaking, she decides this skill is one that must be perfected, even at the expense others. Quickly becoming the self-professed village matchmaker, it isn't until Emma's own heart is on the line that she realizes she's gone perhaps a bit too far.
Now a major Hollywood film starring Anya Taylor-Joy as Emma, Johnny Flynn as Mr. Knightly, and Bill Nighy as Mr. Woodhouse, Jane Austen's Emma continues to resonate with readers of all ages. With an eye-catching new cover, and a cleanly typeset manuscript, this edition of Emma is both modern, and readable.
Fall in Love with These Family Stories
We love stories centered on family dynamics. These seven titles, written by women, offer powerful explorations of love, loyalty, conflict, and the unbreakable bonds that define our relationships.
O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
On his deathbed, John Bergson, the head of a Swedish American family, decided to will the family farm to his daughter, Alexandra, instead of her two older brothers. Though it upset his sons, John was firm in his decision, knowing that the conditions in Nebraska required discipline and strength to strive. Alexandra, already a strong-willed woman, accepted the farm and devoted herself to it. Through droughts and depression, Alexandra's neighbors give up and move away, but Alexandra is determined to make the farm succeed and prove that her father made the right decision. A time jump in the narrative affirms Alexandra's goals, but invites troubles to rival those presented by the harsh realities of the Nebraska plains. Carl Lindstrum, an old friend and neighbor, comes back into town after his abrupt departure years before, stirring an old flame between he and Alexandra. Emil, Alexandra's younger brother, also returns home after going to a state college. The two Bergson siblings, Alexandra and Emil, soon find themselves in forbidden relationships. With the pressure of secret love, unpredictable weather, murder, and scandal, Alexandra and Emil must persevere to protect their family and preserve their happiness.
Separated into five sections, The Wild Land, Neighboring Fields, Winter Memories, The White Mulberry Tree, and Alexandra, Willa Cather's O Pioneers! depicts neighborly disputes, forbidden love, family drama, and murder, all to the backdrop of pioneer Nebraska. With themes of feminism and innovation, O Pioneers inspires perseverance and participation in new inventions and ideas. O Pioneers! is the first of the critically acclaimed and commercially praised Great Plains trilogy, entertaining with its drama and sentiment while enlightening audiences with visceral depictions of pioneer life in the early origins of midwestern America.
Indiana by George Sand
Indiana, a young woman stuck in a loveless marriage, is seduced by a charming neighbor who is not as polished and pure as he appears. She embarks on a journey to find real love, leading to an unexpected discovery about the object of her affection.
Indiana is a young woman from French Louisiana who's married to the much older Colonel Delmare. Their union is strict and often oppressive, leaving her unfulfilled. Indiana shares their home with her cousin Ralph and her loyal maid, Noun. One evening they encounter a handsome young man, Raymon de Ramière, who becomes interested in Indiana. Yet, prior to their meeting, Raymon had already seduced Noun who is pregnant with his child. This complicated dynamic forces Indiana to decide what she really wants: passion or stability?
Indiana is a bold commentary on the institution of marriage in France. It examines the implied gender roles and responsibilities pushed upon women. Sand champions the need for passion and true love, regardless of social convention.
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
First appearing in 1899 The Awakening is regarded as work presaging both feminist fiction and literary modernism. The author's clear vision of a woman's internal and external conflicts continue to demand engagement and response from readers.
The Awakening follows Edna Pontellier as she recognizes and attempts to deal with her confining lot as a woman and mother in the 19th century American South. Torn between traditional roles and an inchoate desire for independence and a more passionate life, she faces more than one difficult choice, leading to a grim reckoning. Initially receiving a mixed critical reception, including much condemnation for its frank depiction of adultery, the novel has gone on to be recognized as both a classic piece of fiction and a groundbreaking work of women's realism. The poignant portrayal of the protagonist attempting to determine her true feminine identity makes this one of the first novels willing to openly confront women's issues, to make clear that traditional roles could be limiting and to legitimatize an emotional life that transcended society's boundaries.
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
A dazzling exploration of social currency, love, and hypocrisy among the Gilded Age's upper crust, The House of Mirth is a classic novel that remains essential reading.
Beautiful Lily Bart is a young New York socialite who enjoys everything that high society in the late 19th century has to offer. She receives plenty of interest from men, but has not yet felt compelled to marry. Although her strictly traditional Aunt Julia provides Lily with a fashionable address and other luxuries, her future livelihood is at risk if she does not commit to a wealthy man. At twenty-nine, Lily is nearing an age when her options may begin to run out. Fortunately, she is not without opportunity, as she has caught the attention of a rich bachelor named Percy Gryce. She has also attracted Lawrence Selden, a man she genuinely likes but discounts due to his limited means. With her penchant for gambling and a desire for true love without sacrifice, Lily soon finds herself outside of society's rules and tangled up in scandal.
Wharton presents us with a tremendous novel of social realism that is rich in dramatic irony. It is as much an indictment of vicious double standards as it is a tragedy of self-delusion. For as hard as Lily tries to navigate the social snubs, malicious rumors and freewheeling sexuality of her peers, all her efforts to secure her own future grow increasingly out of reach. Originally published in 1905, The House of Mirth is still as engaging and relevant as when it was first introduced.
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Young and aristocratic Newland Archer is engaged to the sheltered and beautiful May Welland. But when May's disgraced cousin Ellen arrives from Europe, she turns their high-society New York world upside down.
The young, successful Newland Archer and sweet socialite May Welland are the high society couple they were always meant to be. However, fresh on the heels of their engagement, they find their world upended by the scandalous arrival of May's cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska. Recently separated from her husband and surrounded in rumors, Ellen returns to America and is reluctantly befriended by Archer and his bride to be. Initially disturbed, Archer grows more appreciative of Ellen's free-spirited ways as she opens his eyes to the world past Fifth Avenue. Torn between his loyalty to his marriage and disillusion with New York aristocracy, Archer begins to question all that he knows about love and passion while hopelessly pursuing the unattainable Countess.
The Devil's Pool by George Sand
Two years after his wife's death, Germain is encouraged to move on and find a new woman and home to accommodate his three growing children. He travels to visit a single woman who is eager to start a new family.
Following his daughter's death, Père Maurice has provided constant support for his son-in-law Germain. But after two years, he pushes him to find a new wife. Germain is a young man with three children in need of a mother. Maurice sends him to visit the daughter of a friend, who is also widowed and interested in remarrying. Germain reluctantly agrees, taking his son and the teenager Mary, who is seeking employment. The trip proves to be an eye-opening experience for the duo who form an unexpected bond.
Similar to Sand's previous work, Indiana, The Devil's Pool examines the obligations of marriage. The story illustrates how duty and perception take priority over love and kindness. It's a dichotomy that continues to present itself, regardless of one's social or political status.
Are Parents People? by Alice Duer Miller
Are Parents People? (1924) is a collection of stories by Alice Duer Miller. Inspired by her work as an activist for women's suffrage, Miller explores themes of independence, agency, and female desire while illuminating the subject of divorce. Her work was adapted into a 1925 comedy film starring Betty Bronson, Florence Vidor, and Adolphe Menjou.
"There they were--her mother looking down at her so calmly from the gallery and her father waiting so confidently for her below, each unaware of the other's presence. What in thunder was she going to do?"
As the chairman of her school's self-government committee, Lita Hazlitt is a young woman committed to order. Seeing her parents in the same room for the first time since their acrimonious divorce, she longs for them to reunite so that their family can return to its former state. When her attempts at reconciliation fall on deaf ears, Lita begins to act out, threatening her parents with scandal by spending time with an older, married man.
In each of its nine stories, Are Parents People? explores the politics of divorce in middle to upper class American families. Witty and heartbreaking, Miller's work is an utterly human look at the shortcomings of marriage in modern life.
Feminist Favorites
Female authors have been at the forefront of feminist literature, challenging oppression, advocating for equality, and giving voice to women’s struggles and triumphs across generations.
At Fault by Kate Chopin
At Fault (1890) is a novel by American author Kate Chopin. Published at the author's expense, At Fault is the undervalued debut of a pioneering feminist and gifted writer who sought to portray the experiences of Southern women struggling to survive in an era decimated by war and economic hardship.
Thérèse Lafirme is a Creole widow whose husband's death has made the Place-du-Bois plantation on the Cane River in northwestern Louisiana her sole responsibility. Struggling to survive in a region that, following the fall of the Confederacy, has failed to recover from the devastation of defeat, Lafirme agrees to sell her land's timber rights to a recently divorced businessman named David Hosmer.
As the two begin to fall in love, Hosmer's sawmill causes tension in an agrarian community unaccustomed to modern industry. Hosmer proposes to Thérèse, she is forced to consider the prospect of marriage against the opinion her community as well as her own moral and religious values, to set her personal desires aside in order to appease tradition. When Fanny, Hosmer's alcoholic ex-wife, re-enters the picture, trouble ensues that threatens to ruin Lafirme's reputation as an honest, hardworking woman.
At Fault, like much of Chopin's work, went largely unnoticed upon publication, but has since garnered critical acclaim as a work that explores the lived experiences of women and racial minorities during a period of political and economic upheaval. Both fictional and autobiographical--Chopin was a widow of French heritage who struggled to provide for her family following her husband's death--At Fault is an underappreciated masterpiece of nineteenth-century literature.
Ruth Hall by Fanny Fern
In Fanny Fern's novel Ruth Hall, Miss Ruth Hall must learn to navigate life without her husband, Harry, after he unexpectantly dies from typhoid fever. This follows the death of Harry and Ruth's eldest daughter, Daisy, who passed tragically by contracting a respiratory illness. In the thick of mourning and with her two youngest daughters to support, Ruth must find a way to make end meet. After she resorts to begging, her father agrees to give her a small amount of money. Unable to afford anything else, Rith moves her family to an unsafe, run-down part of town. Despite the discouragement from her parents and older brother, she decides to pursue writing, as she has exhausted her other job opportunities.
Ruth finds an editors, Mr. Lascom and Mr. Tibbetts, who both publish her works. Though readers really enjoy her work which earns the newspapers more subscriptions but neither Mr. Lascom nor Mr. Tibbets will pay Ruth fairly for her contributions. Because of this, she still struggles despite having a job. As Ruth continues her passion, working hard to survive off her modest salary, she meets a new publisher, who promises to pay her more than the other publishers, on the condition that Ruth writes exclusively for him. Ruth Hall is a story of endurance and excellence. Widowed and poor, Ruth is able to pull herself up and become a successful writer, loving mother and find love again after losing her first husband.
First published in 1854, Fanny Fern completed Ruth Hall in just a few months, writing with passion that remains evident even to modern day readers. This edition of Ruth Hall by Fanny Fern features an eye-catching new cover design and is presented in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition is accessible and appealing to contemporary audiences, restoring Ruth Hall to modern standards while preserving the emotion and brilliance of Fanny Fern's work.
The Heavenly Twins by Sarah Grand
The Heavenly Twins (1893) is a novel by Sarah Grand. Written the same year Grand moved to London, divorced her husband, and created a new identity for herself, The Heavenly Twins explores the feminist ideal of the New Woman. As a pioneering feminist whose marriage ended in bitter disappointment, Grand sought to address the frustrations of women whose every move in life was measured against the expectations of a patriarchal society.
In her novel, she explores gender dysphoria, sexually transmitted diseases, and contraception as aspects of a wider feminine experience largely ignored in much of English literature. To be a young woman in Victorian England, one grows accustomed to the indignities of daily life. Despite this, Evadne, Angelica, and Edith do their best to live happily while keeping their families satisfied. Evadne struggles to match the realities of married life with the expectations of traditional society. Meanwhile, Edith enters a relationship with a man who seems well-intentioned but harbors a dangerous secret. Angelica, their friend, bristles against the strictures of womanhood. With the help of her twin brother Diavolo, she explores the freedoms afforded young men for nothing more than the gender they were assigned at birth. Dissatisfied with her life, she begins dressing as a man and uses her new identity to expand her social and romantic opportunities. As their lives take tragic and disappointing turns, they begin to understand how so many women end up trapped by marriage and motherhood, unable to pursue their dreams.
Memoirs of Emma Courtney by Mary Hays
Memoirs of Emma Courtney (1796) is a novel by English writer and feminist Mary Hays. Inspired by events from her own life, as well as by her acquaintance with radical political philosophers William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft, Hays's novel received mixed reviews and was controversial for its representation of female sexuality, adultery, infanticide, and suicide. Modern critics and readers, however, have recognized the novel as a groundbreaking work of feminist fiction.
In a series of letters to her adopted son Augustus Harley, Emma Courtney reveals the tragic details of her life. Young and in love with Augustus's father, Courtney dreamed of marrying him and starting a family. Despite their true connection, Harley is unable to marry--his continued income is only guaranteed, he claims, if he remains a bachelor. Meanwhile, a man named Mr. Montague promises Courtney a life of safety and financial stability if she will agree to marry him, which, after learning that Harley has secretly been married all along, she does. Heartbroken, Courtney settles for a life with her new husband, and raising her daughter becomes her only cause for passion. When she realizes the extent of Mr. Montague's dishonesty, however, she struggles to reconcile her former sense of individuality with the life she has been forced to live. When Harley suddenly reappears, however, feelings from the past return that threaten to flood Courtney's heart and overturn what stability she thought had been her own.
Memoirs of Emma Courtney is an epistolary novel exploring themes of desire, inequality, and the love that transcends the values and bonds of society.
The Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner
The Story of an African Farm (1883) is a novel by South African political activist and writer Olive Schreiner. Her first published novel, The Story of an African Farm was a bestseller upon its release despite being criticized for its portrayal of controversial social, religious, and political themes. Part Bildungsroman, part philosophical fiction, the novel is recognized as a groundbreaking work for its exploration of feminism, atheism, and the influence of British imperialism on the peoples of South Africa.
Split into three sections, the novel begins with the childhood of its three main characters. Waldo, the son of the German farm-keeper Otto, is an intelligent and introspective boy who struggles with his religious faith and attempts to understand himself in relation to the order of the universe. Lyndall is a deeply philosophical thinker who strives toward independence and resists the gender norms imposed upon her by adults and others who would try to control her. Em, Lyndall's cousin, is a friendly girl who tends to believe others without questioning authority or intention. When an English businessman named Bonaparte Blenkins arrives at the farm looking for work, the children begin to suffer under his cruelly selective verbal and psychological abuse.
As Blenkins attempts to position himself for control of Tant Sannie's farm, the children gain an informal education in treachery and the dynamics of power, disrupting their seemingly idyllic life in rural South Africa. The novel follows Waldo, Lyndall, and Em into adulthood, tracing their lives through their changing opinions towards romance, faith, and gender while illuminating the love that binds them despite their differences.
Vintage Gothic Tales
Women have played a key role in the gothic tradition. These authored excelled at weaving eerie, atmospheric tales that blend mystery, romance, and the supernatural while often questioning societal constraints.
Villette by Charlotte Brontë
Villette (1853) is a novel by English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was the third and final novel she published in her lifetime, followed only by The Professor, her posthumously released first novel which was largely reconceived and rewritten as Villette. Inspired by Brontë's experience traveling and teaching English in Brussels, where she went at the age of 26 with her sister Emily before returning alone the following year, Villette is the story of an Englishwoman abroad and contains the themes of loneliness, secrecy, romance, and tragedy which circulate throughout much of her work.
Following a family tragedy, Lucy Snowe becomes employed as a caregiver by an elderly woman named Miss Marchmont, who treats her kindly and shares stories of life and lost love. When Miss Marchmont dies, Lucy--now without family, home, or employment--decides to leave England for Labassecour, a fictional country based on Brontë's experience of Belgium. She is hired to teach English at a boarding school in the city of Villette, where she meets a strangely familiar English doctor and falls in love with M. Paul Emanuel, a local professor. Although he is a widower, M. Paul faces pressure from family members and religious authorities alike, and is forced to choose between a life of social acceptance and a life with the woman he loves. Amidst these circumstances, and haunted by repeated encounters with a nun rumored to be a ghost, Lucy Snowe must rely on her wits and courage as she suffers through not only intense loneliness, but a lack of control over the events which shape her life.
Charlotte Brontë's Villette is a compelling gothic novel which explores the psychological effects of a lack of agency on its protagonist while illuminating the horrors which loom over everyday life.
Mathilda by Mary Shelley
Mathilda (1959) is a posthumous novella by English writer and Romantic Mary Shelley. Written as a means of self-distraction following the deaths of her young children in Italy, Mathilda is a work haunted by tragic loss. Unpublished for over a century, its posthumous appearance helped cement Shelley's reputation as a leading Romantic, an artist unafraid of confronting such themes and taboos as incest and suicide in her work.
Mathilda, named after its narrator, traces a young woman's troubled life from birth to her premature deathbed. Following her mother's death during childbirth and her father's subsequent abandonment, Mathilda is raised by her aunt in rural Loch Lomond, Scotland. A gifted reader and promising intellectual, she rises from her difficult circumstances to lead a relatively happy childhood. When, at the age of 16, her father reenters her life, the two reconnect and eventually move together to London. As she begins to receive suitors however, her father's strange jealousy and irrational behavior conceal a terrible secret. When he reveals his incestuous desires to Mathilda, she rejects him, resulting in his suicide and leaving her unmarried, orphaned, and financially unstable. Living in self-imposed exile, she befriends the similarly melancholy Woodville, a young widower and poet who does his best to care for her despite her crushing bouts of depression and frequent suicidal thoughts. Mathilda is an emotionally complex and ultimately difficult novella recognized for its controversial themes and for its parallels to Shelley's own tragic life.
Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte
Agnes Grey exposes the harsh working conditions of a young governess who's hired by multiple families, including the overly critical Bloomfields and the delusional Murrays. While on assignment, Agnes endures consistent cruelty, forcing her to look inward for strength and encouragement.
Agnes is a young woman who comes from an impoverished background. Eager for financial independence, she accepts a position as a governess for an upper-class family. Agnes is initially charged with the Bloomfield children, who are unruly and slightly sadistic. The oldest boy, Tom, is particularly threatening, as he likes to capture and harm small animals. Agnes also engages with the extremely wealthy Murrays and their daughters, Matilda and Rosalie, who are in dire need of direction. Agnes attempts to navigate her growing responsibilities, while maintaining her morals and resilience.
In Agnes Grey, Anne Brontë examines a common plight among working-class people. It offers a revealing look at the corruptive nature of wealth, and the moral differences between the haves and the have nots. It goes beyond the surface to expose an unflattering but honest reality.
Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
Originally published in Robin Goodfellow magazine, Lady Audley's Secret is the essential work of Mary Elizabeth Braddon and is considered a staple of sensation fiction. The story centers on a mysterious woman, whose dark past slowly comes to light.
Lady Audley is a former governess who marries the wealthy widower, Sir Michael Audley. She thoroughly enjoys the life of privilege and status associated with her new husband. Although she appears beautiful and polished, Lady Audley is more than meets the eye. She has a dark secret that could jeopardize everything she's worked for. To maintain her façade, she plots and schemes to silence those who threaten her happiness. Lady Audley will stop at nothing to maintain her comfortable lifestyle, including murder.
Lady Audley is driven by desperation and fear. Her outlandish behavior leads to an unpredictable narrative taking the reader on a journey full of twists and turns. A combination of melodrama, crime and romance, Lady Audley's Secret is an extreme commentary on Victorian gender and class.
Historical Storytelling at its Best
Female authors bring the past to life, illuminating the experiences of women in different eras and challenging the narratives of history.
My Ántonia by Willa Cather
After the death of his parents, Jim Burden is sent to live with his grandparents in Nebraska, where he meets his first and most prominent love, Antonia Shimera. As pioneers in Nebraska, the Shimera family expected hardships, but none as devastating as a death in the family.
Narrated by Jim Burden, an orphan living with his grandparents next door to the Shimera's, My Antonia follows the coming of age and life of Jim and Antonia, the eldest daughter in the Shimera family. Starting when Jim and Antonia were young kids, the Burdens and the Shimera's live as neighbors in the plains of 19th century Nebraska. While the weather was often harsh and the untamed land made it difficult to yield crops, the Shimera family worked hard to maintain a content life. However, when a tragic death strikes the Shimera family, they fall into poverty despite the aid Jim's grandparents try to offer. As her family's farm fails, Antonia has to quit school to help out with manual labor. Antonia gets a job as a town girl, helping care for children and households in order to support her family. Meanwhile, Jim moves into town as well for higher education, and is able to reconnect with Antonia, though she does not have as much leisure time as he does. As they both grow into adulthood, Jim witnesses the Shimera's and Antonia to make difficult choices and somber sacrifices, contrasting their hardships to his own comfortable life.
My Antonia earned commercial and critical acclaim soon after its publication, and has inspired film and stage adaptations since. With themes of feminism, insight on lower class Americans, and the use of deep metaphors, Willa Cather's My Antonia is a classic gem worthy of even more recognition.
Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Originally published as a serial story, Wives and Daughters is told with an episodic narrative, following a young woman named Molly Gibson as she comes of age. Molly is the only child of a widowed doctor. Raised in an English provincial town, Molly's childhood is filled with trips to aristocratic mansions and bonding experiences with her father. As she grows older however, men become more interested in her because of her attractive appearance. When Dr. Gibson discovers a creepy crush one of his apprentices has on his daughter, he sends her away to live with another family. Though she misses her father, Molly enjoys her life with the Hamley family. Treated as if she were their daughter, Molly grows very close with Mrs. Hamley and the youngest son, Roger. Meanwhile, as domestic drama unfolds at the Hamley's, Dr. Gibson entertains the idea of remarrying. Thinking that another woman would have a good influence on Molly, Dr. Gibson decides to marry Miss Claire, who Molly had met once as a child. Though he had good intentions, Dr. Gibson was mistaken in his assumption that Molly and his new wife would get along. Already shy and a little awkward, Molly does her best to keep the peace, but feels that her stepmother is selfish and too social ambitious. Even though Molly misses living with the Hamley's, she soon finds joy in her new homelife as she grows close to her stepsister, Cynthia, who has a nearly opposite personality compared to Molly. Despite their differences, Molly and Cynthia form a unique bond that they must nurture as they grow together, enduring the unfair social expectations of 19th century England.
With secret proposals, family drama, abusive men, and hurtful gossip, Wives and Daughters is a thrilling account of life as a woman in 19th century England. While Gaskell provides fascinating insight on home life and societal expectations during this period, Wives and Daughters also features strong and intriguing characters that have captured the hearts of readers for centuries.
Jacob's Room by Virgina Woolf
"No plainer manifestation of the modernist trend in contemporary English fiction may be found than in Virginia Woolf's Jacob's Room"-The New York Times
"I have seldom read a cleverer book...it is exquisitely written, but the characters do not vitally survive in the mind because the author has been obsessed by details of originality and cleverness."-Arnold Bennett
Virginia Woolf's third novel, Jacob's Room (1922), is a penetrating look at one man's life from childhood until his untimely death in the first World War. On the surface, this could be considered an anti-war novel, yet it is a wildly inventive experimental work that dispels traditional forms of narration. The nebulous central character, Jacob Flanders, is strangely is absent from the novel, yet the spaces he traversed are not. In telling the story of Jacob through the perspective of the characters he encountered through his short life, Woolf has created an exceptional contemplation of memory, time, and identity. Subverting the bildungsroman genre, Jacob's Room recounts a short and unsettled life through related incidents, fleeting impression, and delirious stream-of-conscience passages.
Through an almost cinematic lens, glimpses of Jacob's early life are recollected through his mother; the idyllic time spent with her children and her uneasy experiences living a widower's life. Through other voices, Jacob arrives at Cambridge, where he is able to socially integrate despite his humble upbringings. After graduating, he leaves for London, where he interacts with a wide range of individuals, both impoverished and from the wealthy class; yet he never fully connects to a meaningful human relationship. Jacob, questioning whether he is a failure, decides to leave London and travels to Greece. Fortunes abroad turn precarious, and he returns to London only to be sent off to the war, where he is killed in action. As E.M. Forester remarked at the publication of Jacob's Room, "A new type of fiction has swum into view." Woolf has created a transformative reading experience conveying the emptiness of one individual's life by leaving out the traditional elements of plot and character, yet she manages to question the ways we fail to see each other as we actually are.
Mary Barton by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
When John Barton's wife dies, he is forced to raise his daughter, Mary, alone, while he grieves the love of his life. Though he is a hard-working man, John struggles to provide for his family. Realizing how unfair his financial situation is, John becomes very resentful towards the unethical distribution of wealth between the social classes. Against John's wishes, when Mary comes of age, she decides to help support their family by working in a dressmaking factory. Neither John nor Mary are happy with the unsafe working conditions in the factory, but soon, Mary is presented with a way out when Henry Carson, the handsome son of a wealthy mill owner, takes an interest in her. Mary knows that marrying Henry would secure a comfortable life for her and her father, but she is conflicted when Jem Wilson, a respectful and hardworking man also declares his love for her. Though Mary reciprocates his feelings, she is conflicted.
Mary rejects Jem and avoids Henry while she tries to decide whether to embrace her love for Jem or accept the financial comfort Henry would provide as a husband. While Jem respectfully accepts Mary's rejection, he decides to give her space. However, when someone warns him of the possible ill intent Henry has for Mary, he tries to defend her honor. After a fight between Jem and Henry is broken up by the police, Jem decides to spend time with his cousin, a sailor. But when a dead body is found soon after, and Jem becomes the prime suspect, Mary must solve the murder and leave home to help clear Jem's name before it's too late.
Set in Manchester, England, Mary Barton follows the Barton family as they witness and experience the hardships faced by Victorian working-class families, providing thoughtful insight on the social conditions of the 19th century. With murder, love, and discussions of serious social issues, Mary Barton depicts a powerful narrative that resonates even with modern audiences.
The Wide, Wide World by Susan Warner
When her father leaves and mother becomes ill, a girl is sent to live with a distant relative where she learns some hard life lessons. The girl encounters both good and bad people, but maintains her Christian values.
Ellen Montgomery's life drastically changes when she's forced to move in with her estranged Aunt Fortune. The environment is cold and oppressive, a stark comparison to her mother's comforting home. Despite the changes, Ellen explores her new community making several friends along the way. As the years pass, she experiences sickness, death and eventually love. She uses her faith to guide her through many unexpected trials and tribulations. Ellen's story is a testament to a person's ability to stay kind and optimistic no matter the circumstance.
The Wide, Wide World was Susan Warner's first and biggest commercial success. It is considered a fixture in the domestic genre showcasing the growing pains of womanhood. Aside from Uncle Tom's Cabin, Warner's was one of the most circulated novels of its time.
Cranford by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Set in a small English town during the 19th century, Cranford depicts the lives of women, centering on the elderly, the widowed, and the unmarried. The social expectations and customs of Cranford are mostly enforced by three older women. Rowena Fowler is a wealthy woman who takes pride in her luxury items and has outlived all of her kin. Betsy Barker is a sweet, but a bit odd lady who has a pet cow that she loves so dearly that she sews pajamas for the animal. Deborah Jenkyns possesses the most social power. While the other two ladies help her police other townspeople, Deborah is the one who establishes the norms and customs that the town is expected to abide by. The town have more or less agreed to the standards these leading ladies set, which has set a balanced dynamic in Cranford. With vigorous gossip and a close-knit community, Cranford is a picturesque rural town. However, Cranford is shaken when a new family moves into town. Captain Brown and his two daughters unknowingly challenge Cranford's rules soon after they arrive. First, Captain Brown openly admits that he is poor. Traditionally, he is expected to keep up appearances to appear well-off, but Captain Brown, who is unfamiliar with such a custom freely admits his financial troubles.
Next, he disagrees with Deborah over who is the best author of the time, which Deborah sees as a personal attack. As the town of Cranford witnesses every quirk and flaw of the Brown family, tearing them apart with gossip, they notice something else too. Captain Brown is an incredibly kind man, who makes homemade gifts and emphatically listens to others. This glowing virtue paired with all of Brown's social inadequacies challenge the town of Cranford like never before, forcing the townspeople to decide what merits really matter.
Told through a series of satirical sketches, Cranford provides an intimate narrative that allows readers to experience the life and people of the 19th century, especially the women. Often excluded from narratives, Gaskell has created strong and memorable female characters, giving the women a well-deserved spotlight. Filled with humor and sentiment, Cranford is a tranquil and fun read.
Oldtown Folks by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Oldtown Folks (1869) is a historical novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Although her career peaked with the publication of abolitionist novel Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852), Stowe continued to work as a professional writer throughout her life.
A tale of family, faith, and perseverance, Oldtown Folks displays her impressive imaginative range and admirable moral outlook while illuminating aspects of early American life that would otherwise be consigned to history. After the death of his father and brother, Horace Holyoke moves with his mother to Oldtown, Massachusetts to live with her family. Staying at the home of his grandfather Jacob Badger, a prominent townsperson and successful miller, Horace listens to the stories of local religious figures, workers, and businesspeople who gather in the Badger family kitchen. Meanwhile, Harry and Tina Percival--a young brother and sister abandoned by their father, a British soldier who fled to England after the war--arrive in Oldtown after escaping abuse at the hands of a foster family. Taken in by the Badgers, the siblings befriend Horace and slowly adjust to life in a loving home.
One Easter, the children travel to Boston with the local minister's wife to visit with the wealthy Madame Kittery, who takes an interest in Harry and Horace and promises them, should they do well in school, that she will pay for them both to attend Harvard. Strengthened by the love of their community, anchored by their extended or adopted families, the three children grow up in a nation brimming with hope and meaningful change. Exploring religion, philosophy, and the value of education, Stowe's novel is a powerful portrait of postwar New England for children and adults alike. Followed three years later by Oldtown Fireside Stories (1872), Oldtown Folks is an underappreciated masterpiece from the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, the most influential American novel of the nineteenth century.
A Life's Secret by Mrs. Henry Wood
A Life's Secret: A Novel (1862) is a novel by Mrs. Henry Wood. Written towards the beginning of her career as a leading English novelist of the Victorian era, A Life's Secret: A Novel is a sweeping exploration of class, society, and the dangers of keeping secrets. Blending several literary genres, including mystery and romance, Wood's novel is a masterful and underappreciated work of fiction that remains essential nearly two centuries after it was published.
Orphaned at a young age, Austin Clay has found success working for his uncle, a builder. When his uncle dies unexpectedly, the young man moves to London, where he hopes to make a name for himself despite his limited upbringing. There, he meets the young Florence, a twelve-year-old girl whose uncle Clay rescues from a near-deadly accident. As the years go by, Austin and Florence develop a budding romance, but are unable to marry without the approval of her uncle, Mr. Hunter. Meanwhile, Hunter is forced to defend himself from the blackmail of Miss Gwinn, who threatens to reveal his darkest secret and to derail his successful business. The story unfolds as a moving portrait of the burgeoning labor movement, the complexities of class in Victorian England, and the threat posed to religious values by an expanding industrial world.
A Life's Secret: A Novel is a sweeping tale of two men tied by fate whose divergent backgrounds clash while bringing them together in the end. Hopeful in the face of poverty and hardship, Wood relies on her traditional ideals to critique and examine life in nineteenth century England, crafting compelling characters and complex plots to do so. While not her most popular work, A Life's Secret: A Novel is a work of its time that remains relevant in our own.
The Channings: A Story by Mrs, Henry Wood
The Channings: A Story (1862) is a novel by Mrs. Henry Wood. Written towards the beginning of her career as a leading English novelist of the Victorian era, The Channings: A Story is a sweeping exploration of religion, society, crime, and the bonds of brotherhood. Blending several literary genres, including mystery, Gothic, and romance, Wood's novel is a masterful and underappreciated work of fiction that remains essential nearly two centuries after it was published.
The novel opens with a church service, an elaborate ceremony performed under the watchful eye of the Reverend John Pye. Following a mediocre choir performance, Pye enters the vestry to discover a commotion involving a prank played on Bywater, whose surplice had been covered in ink by a devious, unidentified culprit. Soon after, the reader is introduced to the Channing brothers. Charley, the younger, is a bookish preteen who undergoes extensive bullying and is referred to as "Miss Channing" by the other boys. His brother, Tom, is a senior at their school who wields his power over his brother while defending him when the need arises. Wood's novel follows these youths into adulthood, tracing their growth into young men in a society grounded in faith and perseverance. When one brother is accused of a serious crime, the other--believing him to be guilty--takes his place. Forced to reassess their relationship by the extent of his sibling's sacrifice, the other must find out who committed the theft in order to free his savior and to restore the Channing family reputation.
The Channings: A Story is a powerful novel by an author with a deep understanding of English society, the pressures of boyhood, and the common values capable of holding loved ones together.
Classic Psychological Works by Women
These classic novels explore the complexities of the human mind, and these women writers have mastered psychological fiction.
This Is the End by Stella Benson
This Is the End (1917) is a novel by Stella Benson. Based on the author's experience in the movement for women's suffrage, This Is the End is a story of identity and social class set in the London neighborhood of Hackney.
As Jay attempts to break from her restrictive past, her brother Kew returns from the First World War scarred by his experiences and disillusioned with life at home. Benson's meditative, diaristic prose guides the reader along the paths of change and confrontation faced by her protagonists, immersing them in the tumultuous decade in which the novel was written.
"This is the end, for the moment, of all my thinking, this is my unfinal conclusion. There is no reason in tangible things, and no system in the ordinary ways of the world. Hands were made to grope, and feet to stumble, and the only things you may count on are the unaccountable things. System is a fairy and a dream, you never find system where or when you expect it. There are no reasons except reasons you and I don't know."
Guided by a philosophical sense of the world, Jay--formerly Jane Elizabeth--longs to escape the confines of her life in the countryside. Without telling her family, she leaves for London and adopts a new identity, exposing herself for the first time in her life to the rhythms of working-class existence. When her brother Kew returns from the Great War and fails to find her at home, he comes to the city in search of his sister. Bonded by tragedy, the two orphans grow to respect one another as adults, both of them scarred in their own way by the expectations placed on young men and women in a decade of tremendous cultural change.
Red Pottage by Mary Cholmondeley
Red Pottage (1899) is novel by Mary Cholmondeley. Partly based on her experience as an artist from a devoutly religious family, Red Pottage is a story of friendship, romance, and identity that faced backlash from critics for its controversial portrayal of female sexuality. Satirical and deeply observant of the hypocrisies of Victorian society, Red Pottage was an international bestseller in its time and was adapted into a 1918 silent film starring Mary Dibley, C. Aubrey Smith, and Gerald Ames.
"It was a hot night in June. Hugh had thrown back his overcoat, and the throng of passers-by in the street could see, if they cared to see, 'the glass of fashion' in the shape of white waistcoat and shirt front, surmounted by the handsome, irritated face of their owner, leaning back with his hat tilted over his eyes."
Handsome and magnanimous, Hugh Scarlett has never had a hard time with romance. Having recently ended an affair with a local aristocrat, he has caught the eye of Rachel West, a young heiress who seems unaware of his reputation as a womanizer. Rachel, both naïve and strong-willed, shares everything with her friend Hester Gresley, a pastor's daughter who longs to make it as a professional writer. As she struggles to overcome the animosity of her brother, a self-righteous minister, Hester looks to Rachel for guidance. Funny and tragic, Red Pottage is a timeless story of friendship that explores the lives of women in a world controlled by men.
The Woman in the Bazaar by Alice Perrin
Set in both England and colonial India, The Woman in the Bazaar follows Captain George Coventry as he wrestles with guilt and the consequences of his actions. Rigid even by old fashioned standards, George Coventry holds misogynistic beliefs regarding the role women fill in a marriage, and in society. When he meets a beautiful woman named Rafella, they marry quickly after dating for a short period of time.
Despite this rush and George's misogyny, they are a happy couple for a while, until Rafella starts making friends. After she befriends the handsome Mr. Kennister, George assumes that Rafella is cheating on him. Absolutely irate and sick with jealousy, George terrorizes Rafella with a possessive rage until she runs away, never to be seen again.
Years later, George falls in love again, but is unable to enjoy his second chance as he is haunted by rumors of a woman in the bazaar, an Englishwoman who had been sold into slavery. As George becomes engrossed in this rumor, he is forced to wonder if Rafella could have suffered the same fate. Finally taking accountability of and reflecting on his actions, George realizes that he first must resolve his past with Rafella before entering a new marriage.
With its feminist themes, complex characters and unique setting, The Woman in the Bazaar keeps audiences engaged and constrained. Originally published in 1917, Alice Perrin's The Woman in the Bazaar colorfully depicts a setting uncommon in literature while featuring a marriage riddled with jealousy. With the vivid portrayal of colonial India as well as the many sides to relationships, The Woman in the Bazaar is a compelling narrative of an aspect of marriage not often explored. Following George's pre-existing polarizing beliefs, Perrin explores their fruition and the effect it has on Rafella and George's relationship. This rare portrayal of marital problems caters to an unfortunately common consequence of matrimony and still resonates with contemporary audiences.
The Invader by Margaret L Woods
As it is common and necessary in the academic world, students study art and its history, perceiving many, many works over their academic career. However, it is rare that a piece art can be traced back to a student through personal history. Yet, Professor Fletcher's pupils get this chance as they study a portrait of a woman named Lady Hammerton.
First starting with the story of his grandfather's scandalous marriage to a woman twenty-four years younger than him, Professor Fletcher leads the discussion on the intriguing story behind the portrait, and the colorful personality and accomplishments of the lady immortalized on the canvas. While the students hear of stories both heart-breaking, inspirational, and shocking, they become even more invested when they realize the uncanny resemblance a fellow student, Milly, shares with the woman in the painting. As they learn of their blood connection, the students keep these stories in mind as they continue their studies with a greater perspective.
Though not often found in print, The Invader: A Novel by Margaret Louisa Woods is a compelling and thought-provoking read. Through the exploration of topics such as art, history, and ancestry, this dramatic novel allows modern readers a privileged perspective into the culture of the early 20th century, especially concerning the academic world. With captivating characters, and vivid description, The Invader: A Novel is alluring and fascinating. Decorated with Woods' gorgeous and poem-like prose, The Invader: A Novel intimately depicts characters and scenery that stay imprinted on readers' minds long after the narrative is finished.
Classical Love is in the Air
Female authors have shaped the romance genre with timeless tales of love, desire, and societal expectations. We love these romance novels that celebrate heroines who challenge conventions and follow their hearts.
Love in Excess by Eliza Haywood
Love in Excess (1719-1720) is a novel by Eliza Haywood. Published in three parts by printer William Chetwood, the novel marked Haywood' debut on the London literary scene. It was an immediate bestseller, going through several reprintings in Haywood's lifetime.
Love in Excess is considered a prime example of the popular genre of amatory fiction, which often used love triangles to expose the imbalance between male and female desire in a patriarchal society. Like all young aristocratic women of their time, Alovisa and Amena are expected to wait for a marriage proposal to fall into their laps. Forbidden from expressing her desires, Alovisa decides to send an anonymous letter to the handsome, rakish D'Elmont. When he receives it, however, he thinks it has been sent by Amena, whom her promptly begins to pursue. Disappointed, Alovisa conspires with Amena's father--who disapproves of D'Elmont--to have her rival sent to a convent. Although Alovisa ends up with her beau of choice, she soon realizes that desire has a funny way of concealing a lover's true nature.
Summer by Edith Wharton
Originally born in an impoverished community, Charity's parents sought out the most educated man in the nearby New England town to raise their daughter. After being surrendered to a lawyer named Royall, Charity was raised comfortably by Mr. Royall and his wife. However, when Mrs. Royall tragically passes away, Charity's relationship with Royall is threatened. After his wife's death, Royall begins to feel sexually attracted to Charity, and when she refuses him, their relationship becomes tense. Royall refuses to be close to her, sending proxies to take care of her.
Upset and desperate to earn enough money to be able to move away and start a new life, Charity begins to work at the local library. There, she meets a young architect named Lucius, who is visiting the town to gather research for a book he is writing on colonial homes. When Charity offers to escort him around town, the two become very close, much to Royall's dismay. Intending to marry Charity himself, Royall does his best to keep the two apart, making sure that it is known that Lucius is not welcome in his home. Still, Charity and Lucius begin a passionate love affair, progressing to a physical relationship.
With secret rendezvous and passionate promises, Charity falls head over heels, but when Lucius starts missing meetings and spending time with other women, Charity is forced to wonder if he is really the man she thought she knew. When she discovers information that turns her world upside down, Charity is inspired to revisit her roots to help her make a difficult choice.
With themes of class, feminism, relationships, and sexual awakening, Summer by Edith Wharton was viewed as a controversial novel when it was first published. Now, over one-hundred years later, modern audiences can appreciate the complex class and gender struggles depicted in Summer without being scandalized by the erotic content. With the use of beautiful prose filled with rich imagery, Edith Wharton's Summer features a heart-wrenching narrative sure to keep readers engaged.
Diana Tempest by Mary Cholmondeley
Diana Tempest (1893) is novel by Mary Cholmondeley. Partly based on her experience as an artist from a wealthy landowning family, Diana Tempest is a story of greed, romance, and betrayal that faced backlash from critics for its controversial portrayal of female sexuality. Satirical and deeply observant of the hypocrisies of Victorian society, Diana Tempest is an essential work by one of Victorian England's bestselling novelists.
"Colonel Tempest, as a rule, took life very easily. If he had fits of uncontrolled passion now and then, they were quickly over. If his feelings were touched, that was quickly over too. But to-day his face was clouded. He had tried the usual antidotes for an impending attack of what he would have called 'the blues, ' by which he meant any species of reflection calculated to give him that passing annoyance which was the deepest form of emotion of which he was capable."
Unused to being denied, Colonel Tempest is unable to control himself following the death of his brother. Rather than mourn his loss, he laments the passing of the Tempest family fortune to his nephew John, a secretly illegitimate child whose claim as heir is fabricated at best. A notorious gambler, he makes a drunken bet that he will one day control the estate, unwittingly placing a bounty on John's head. At the same time, the Colonel's daughter Diana has begun to fall in love with the young heir, complicating her father's plans and welcoming disaster into her life.
Diana Tempest is a tale of family, faith, and betrayal that explores the Victorian concept of the New Woman without sacrificing its entertaining narrative.
Lucy Temple by Susanna Rowson
Lucy Temple (1828) is a novel by Susanna Rowson. Inspired in part by the author's experiences in America--she was brought there by her father, a Royal Navy officer, and place under house arrest during the American Revolution--Lucy Temple, the sequel to her bestselling novel Charlotte Temple, fits squarely into the popular genre of the seduction novel.
Alongside such works as Hannah Webster Foster's The Coquette (1797), Rowson's novel continues to inform scholars on the historical portrayal of women's sexuality in English and American literature.
"Such an assemblage of youth and innocence naturally attracted the young soldiers: they stopped; and, as the little cavalcade passed, almost involuntarily pulled off their hats. A tall, elegant girl looked at Montraville and blushed: he instantly recollected the features of Charlotte Temple, whom he had once seen and danced with at a ball at Portsmouth."
From this brief chance encounter, so much suffering ensues. Not long after meeting her on the street, Lieutenant John Montraville seduces young Charlotte and convinces her to leave her family and friends behind to join him in the new world. There, spurred on by rumors of infidelity and harboring his own sinister motives, he soon abandons his innocent wife, leaving her alone in a country where nobody knows her name. Although her father reaches her in time to see her once more, she soon succumbs to illness and poverty, leaving a young daughter behind.
Lucy Temple is a tragic story of romance and morality from a leading writer and educator of her time.
Idalia: Or, the Unfortunate Mistress by Eliza Haywood
Idalia: Or, The Unfortunate Mistress (1723) is a novel by Eliza Haywood. Blending tragedy and comedy, Haywood explores the intersection of ambition, family, and desire to reveal how women so often fall victim to the whims of villainous men.
Idalia: Or, The Unfortunate Mistress is considered a prime example of the popular genre of amatory fiction, which often used love triangles to expose the imbalance between male and female desire in a patriarchal society. Idalia is a young woman at the center of Venetian social life. Having lost her mother at a young age, she lacks the guidance necessary for navigating the world of courtship.
When her father rejects her suitor Florez, a handsome, rakish man, Idalia turns her attentions to Don Ferdinand, with whom she maintains a steady correspondence. When his friend Henriquez falls in love with her, the two men decide to fight for Idalia's affections. Their duel ends in death for both men, leaving Idalia to turn her attentions elsewhere. Soon, she attempts to enter a convent in order to live chastely, beyond the reach of men. But the world has other plans.
The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless by Eliza Haywood
The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless (1751) is a novel by Eliza Haywood. Blending tragedy and comedy, Haywood explores the intersection of ambition, family, and desire to reveal how women so often fall victim to the whims of men.
The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless has been recognized as one of the first novels in English literature to depict the development of an independent heroine, as well as to move away from the more popular genre of amatory fiction toward the marriage plot. Widely read in the eighteenth century, Haywood influenced such authors as Fanny Burney and Jane Austen. Having completed her education at an all-girls boarding school, Betsy Thoughtless moves to the city of London.
For the first time, she finds herself thrust into the orbit of young and marriageable men, whose attention and affections she craves, though remains cautious to reciprocate. Betsy knows the dangers inherent to sexual impropriety--pregnancy out of wedlock would all but guarantee her a life of poverty and misfortune, not to mention the shame it would bring to her aristocratic family. Despite these pressures, Betsy finds a way to enjoy single life while learning to recognize the signs of deceitful, unworthy men. When marriage does come, she soon realizes the institution is far from perfect. Unhappy, she grows as a person and looks for a way to regain her former independence.
Ladies Must Live by Alice Duer Miller
Ladies Must Live (1917) is a novel by Alice Duer Miller. Inspired by her work as an activist for women's rights, Miller presents a romantic comedy exploring the effects of class and gender on love, friendship, and work. Adapted for theater and film, Ladies Must Live is a charming novel from a writer whose reputation as a popular poet should extend to her fiction as well.
"Certain human beings are admitted to have a genius for discrimination in such matters as objects of art, pigs or stocks. Mrs. Ussher had this same instinct in regard to fashion, especially where fashions in people were concerned. She turned toward hidden social availability very much as the douser's hazel wand turns toward the hidden spring. When she crossed the room to speak to some woman after dinner, whatever that woman's social position might formerly have been, you could be sure that at present she was on the upward wing."
At a gathering of prominent socialites, a story of ambition and romance emerges. While Christine longs to marry the soon-to-be-divorced Ralph, she finds herself in competition with Nancy, a woman she detests. As the night goes on, discussions over wealth, women's rights, and politics turn heated, engagements are made and broken, and a tragic event changes hearts and minds forever. Ladies Must Live is both a romantic comedy and a biting critique on social convention from Alice Duer Miller, whose political work as a women's rights activist informs her characters and their frequently contentious interactions.
The Marquis de Villemer by George Sand
Urbain, the Marquis de Villemer is the younger brother of Duke d'Aleria, and is eager to clear his family's debt to ensure his mother's happiness. The siblings have drastically different views on the purpose of money and marriage.
A marchioness is eager to marry off her two sons: Duke d'Aleria and Urbain, the Marquis de Villemer. The former is the eldest, a charming playboy whose gambling addiction has saddled the family with debt. Urbain is the younger, more responsible son, who's willing to sacrifice his happiness for his mother's security. The men interact with several women, including Caroline, a secretary and companion to their mother. She is pulled into a strange world that hinges on marriage arrangements and social capital.
The Marquis de Villemer is a nineteenth century novel that embodies popular elements of that time. It's fueled by class disparity, mismatched romance and financial strain. It also highlights family legacy and the desire to keep up appearances.
Come Out of the Kitchen by Alice Duer Miller
Come Out of the Kitchen (1916) is a novel by Alice Duer Miller. Inspired by her work as an activist for women's rights, Miller presents a romantic comedy exploring the effects of class and gender on love, friendship, and work.
Adapted for theater and film, Come Out of the Kitchen is a charming novel from a writer whose reputation as a popular poet should extend to her fiction as well. Arriving in the South, Mr. Burton, a successful young businessman, meets with a local real estate agent to inquire about renting a property for the summer. Interested in an old mansion, he is eager to sign the contract--only one strange detail prompts his hesitation. If he would like to stay there, he will need to employ the four domestic servants already living at the property.
Desperate to settle down, Burton agrees to meet with them first: the butler, a kind and intelligent man; the cook, a beautiful woman; the housemaid, a sullen young lady; and a young boy whose job is to do everything else. Slightly unsettled by their manners and accents, Burton agrees to keep them on and soon makes his way to the mansion, where he immediately plans to host a small party of friends. When the day of the party arrives, however, the behavior of the servants begins to change.
Come Out of the Kitchen is an entertaining romantic comedy from Alice Duer Miller, whose political work as a women's rights activist informs her characters and their frequently humorous interactions.
The Star of India by Alice Perrin
Star of India is a romantic novel that follows the complicated courtship and marriage of a young woman who's disenchanted with the minutiae of life. Refusing to embrace the role of a missionary or tutor, she hastily weds an older man in hopes of breaking away from her family's oppressive influence.
Stella Carrington is eager to experience life outside the confines of her grandmother's home. In an attempt to curb Stella's unconventional desires, her family seeks the help of her godfather Robert Crayfield, a colonel in the Indian service. Instead of occupational guidance, he offers to marry Stella and take her to India as his bride.
Stella discovers the complicated nature of marriage having to navigate new and unexpected responsibilities. Soon, conflicts are amplified by the appearance of Philip Flint, a handsome young officer stationed in town. It's a classic tale of love and duty that forces Stella to make a difficult but necessary decision.
This is a complex story that bucks tradition pitting one character's happiness against the desires of another. Star of India is a fascinating look at marriage, the military and colonial politics.
The Higher Court by Mary Stewart Daggett
The Higher Court (1911) is a novel of religion and romance by Mary Stewart Daggett, a writer well-known in her community of Pasadena, California whose work has yet to find the audience it deserves.
Father Barry, a young Catholic priest in the Midwest, is beginning to question his vows. A tense meeting with the local bishop, combined with a feeling of mental unease, have shaken Barry's faith to the core. Meanwhile, in the midst of a heavy blizzard, a letter arrives from Isabel Doan, a friend of Barry's from before he took his orders--she is stopping by to see him on her way to Southern California, where she is moving with her young son Reginald. When they arrive, Barry is shaken by a series of events--Reginald has come down with a terrible illness; news arrives of the death of his estranged mother; and his love for Isabel threatens to tear down the final vestige of his already fleeting faith. Faced with a choice, Father Barry abandons the cloth and travels to Europe, but he will soon find something stronger than religion to guide his heart back home.
Mary Stewart Daggett's The Higher Court interrogates tradition in order to get to the truth, while simultaneously illuminating the inexorable changes faced by the nation and world in the early-twentieth century.
Satire Gems
With sharp wit and keen insight, women writers have used satire to critique social norms, gender roles, and power structures. These stories often disguised profound commentary in humor and irony.
Cecilia; Or, Memoirs of an Heiress by Frances Burney
Though she is an orphan, Cecilia Beverly is an heiress to a small fortune, which she may keep under the stipulation from her uncle that when Cecilia marries, she will keep her Beverly name, asking her future husband to adopt it as well. After she leaves for London to stay with her guardians, she realizes that each of the three families left to care for her are greedy and vain people. Before arriving to the first pair of guardians, the Harrels, Cecilia visits their friend, Mr. Monckton, for breakfast. Mr. Monckton is stunned when he meets the beautiful, intelligent and wealthy Miss Beverly and is upset that he has married for money instead of waiting to meet a woman like Cecilia.
Cecilia knows nothing of his admirations and attends a masquerade ball thrown by Mrs. Harrel. At the masquerade she is unable to meet people because a man dressed as a black demon is following and chasing others away. After she is rescued by a mysterious man masquerading as White Domino, it becomes a pattern in her social life. This man rescues Cecilia again at the opera when two men are fighting over her. She learns his identity is Mortimer Delvile and after spending time with his family, Cecilia begins to fall in love. Unfortunately, Mortimer believes she is engaged to one of the many suitors trying to win her favor. Cecilia must overcome the manipulation and extortion from her guardians and dangerous admirers in order to protect her fortune and find real love.
First published in 1782, Cecilia; or Memoirs of an Heiress by Frances Burney is an exciting and wonderful romance. With themes of true love, class, and morality, Cecilia; or Memoirs of an Heiress satirizes the society it is set in. With captivating characters and a compelling plot, this 18th century romance is timeless. This edition of Cecilia; or, Memoirs of an Heiress by Frances Burney features an eye-catching new cover design and is presented in a font that is both modern and readable.
The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton
Undine Spragg is a beautiful and ambitious, yet vain and socially dense young woman with dreams of marrying a rich man. Hoping for a life of prominence and luxury, Undine convinces her family to relocate to New York. The Spragg family, who have a earned their modest wealth from shady practices, are happy to accommodate Undine's request. When Undine meets Ralph Marvell, an aspiring poet from a family of old New York high society, she is determined to become his wife.
After a brief courtship, she gets her wish, however, Undine soon realizes that she is still unsatisfied. Though Ralph is a good husband--kind and doting, he does not have the money to support her extravagant lifestyle. While his family enjoys an elevated social status, it is mainly just reminiscent on a prior generation's wealth; Ralph's family does not possess a significant amount of money. Feeling judged by her in-laws and upset that she cannot purchase luxury items, Undine is unhappy in the marriage, feeling even worse after the birth of their son, Paul. Often neglectful of Paul, Undine begins an affair with an aristocrat named Peter. As their love affair intensifies, Undine becomes set on leaving Ralph, ignoring the possible consequences of being a divorcee in pursuit of money, sex, and social status.
With narrative twists and memorable characters, The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton is a fast-paced story that explores the nuances of American society. Through themes of class, lovely prose and intricate satire, The Custom of the Country pays special attention to the social class divides of 20th century America. While Wharton's novel allows modern readers to gain perspective on a specific era in America, contemporary audiences can also reflect on the ways this class system still effects social customs today.
Evelina by Frances Burney
In Evelina or the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World, the title character leaves her isolated country home for vibrant London society. As she stumbles through the city, she encounters many people including the handsome, Lord Orville.
Evelina is a young woman who's spent her entire childhood in seclusion. Although the legitimate daughter of Sir John Belmont, she was raised in the country with Reverend Villars. When Evelina is offered a chance to visit London, she quickly accepts the opportunity. Upon her arrival, her questionable origins and naïveté make her a target for rumors and speculation. Despite her unconventional ways, she catches the eye of nobleman, Lord Orville and tries to navigate formal rules of society and courtship.
Evelina or the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World is a compelling story bursting with humor and romanticism. The author beautifully weaves multiple characters and arcs into one satisfying narrative. Originally published in 1778, Evelina maintains its refreshing outlook on contemporary life.
The Anti-Pamela: Or, Feign'd Innocence Detected by Eliza Haywood
The Anti-Pamela: Or, Feign'd Innocence Detected (1741) is a novel by Eliza Haywood. Blending tragedy and comedy, Haywood explores the intersection of gender and class to reveal how women perform and experience desire. Written in response to Samuel Richardson's Pamela; Or, Virtue Rewarded, a novel in which a young girl resists the advances of her wealthy employer and eventually marries him honorably, Haywood's novel flips the portrayal of static feminine desire on its head.
Unlike Pamela, her protagonist is an anti-heroine who wields her sexuality for the purpose of social mobility, showing resilience and determination despite her repeated failures. Syrena Tricksy knows what she wants from men. To get it, she disguises herself as an unmarried aristocrat, a mistress, a widow, and a libertine, each time in pursuit of a wealthy nobleman to marry. Playing these parts with ease, she frequently gets in her own way, failing at the last moment through carelessness and greed. Resourceful and independent, Syrena is a character at odds with the stereotypical portrayal of feminine sexuality. She may not be perfect, but she is never passive.
As a parody of Samuel Richardson's popular novel of morality, The Anti-Pamela: Or, Feign'd Innocence Detected lampoons the unrealistic character at the heart of Pamela, a woman who gets what she wants through virtue alone.