The Cambridge Companion to Women's Writing in Britain, 1660–1789

Essays by leading scholars provide a comprehensive overview of women writers and their work in Restoration and eighteenth-century Britain.

The Cambridge Companion to Women's Writing in Britain, 1660–1789 brings together the most recent scholarship by leading scholars in the field to provide a comprehensive overview of women's writing in eighteenth-century Britain. The chapters discuss both canonical and lesser-known women writers in multiple genres, including poetry, drama, fiction and travel writing.Women writers played a central role in the literature and culture of eighteenth-century Britain. Featuring essays on female writers and genres by leading scholars in the field, this Companion introduces readers to the range, significance and complexity of women's writing across multiple genres in Britain between 1660 and 1789. Divided into two parts, the Companion first discusses women's participation in print culture, featuring essays on topics such as women and popular culture, women as professional writers, women as readers and writers, and place and publication. Additionally, part one explores the ways women writers crossed generic boundaries. The second part contains chapters on many of the key genres in which women wrote including poetry, drama, fiction (early and later), history, the ballad, periodicals, and travel writing. The Companion also provides an introduction surveying the state of the field, an integrated chronology, and a guide to further reading.