British Women's Writing from Brontë to Bloomsbury, Volume 2

The second volume of the series examines Victorian women's writing in the 1860s and 1870s, highlighting both celebrated and lesser-known authors.

This five-volume series explores the evolution of women's fiction from 1840 to 1940, offering a comprehensive historical context that highlights significant developments in the genre. Each volume provides a decade-by-decade analysis, critically examining both well-known and obscure works by British women authors. By redefining the landscape of women's authorship, the series captures a century marked by profound social and cultural transformations.

Volume 2 focuses specifically on the 1860s and 1870s, delving into the unique characteristics of Victorian women's writing during this period. It encompasses various fictional styles, including short stories, religiously-themed novels, and comedic works. The collection features 16 original essays that investigate key trends such as the sensation craze, the influence of emerging technologies, and the expanding career opportunities available to women writers.

This volume not only reassesses prominent female authors of the nineteenth century in the context of their initial publications but also seeks to recover the voices of overlooked women writers who contributed significantly to the literary scene of the 1860s and 1870s. By doing so, it enriches the understanding of women's contributions to literature during a time of rapid change and innovation.