800 Years of Women's Letters
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Product Description
Product Description
This inspiring and fascinating book is the first truly comprehensive study of women's letters ever published. Organized by subject matter, and covering a wide range of topics from politics, work and war, to childhood, love and sexual passion, "800 Years of Women's Letters" reveals the depth, breadth and diversity of women's lives through the ages. Here Heloise writes to Abelard of her undying devotion, Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf correspond about life and writing, and Queen Victoria complains to Robert Peel about the neglect of Buckingham Palace. Many more women write letters that reveal the compassion, humour, love and tenacity with which they confront the often difficult circumstances of everyday life. This is an intriguing insight, and a rare opportunity to read the real words of real women, in their own intimate language. 'No literary form is more revealing, more spontaneous or more individual than a letter' - P.D. James.
About the Author
OLGA KENYON is a well-respected writer and academic. She has lectured at Bradford University and Morley College, where she was Head of Humanities. She has also lectured for the Open University, specialising in Women's Literature. She lives in Manchester.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
--------------------------
In this engrossing anthology, the first truly comprehensive study of women's letters, Olga kenyon explores the tradition of female letter-writing from the 12th century to the presetn day.
One of the few 'allowable' forms of written expressioin open to women until the 18th century.
these private letters deal in daily life, their sorrows and joys, small achievments and the great rites of passage of birth, death and marriage.
Includes: Heloise, Margaret Paston, Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, Florence Nightingale, Vita Sackville-West, Virginia Woolf, Jane Austen and many many more...
A Must for any collection!
--------------------------
In this engrossing anthology, the first truly comprehensive study of women's letters, Olga kenyon explores the tradition of female letter-writing from the 12th century to the presetn day.
One of the few 'allowable' forms of written expressioin open to women until the 18th century.
these private letters deal in daily life, their sorrows and joys, small achievments and the great rites of passage of birth, death and marriage.
Includes: Heloise, Margaret Paston, Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, Florence Nightingale, Vita Sackville-West, Virginia Woolf, Jane Austen and many many more...
A Must for any collection!
--------------------------
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'800 years of Women's letters' by Olga Kenyon is a truly fascinating and comprehensive study of women's letters reveals the nature of women's lives from the twelfth to the twentieth century. Entertaining and informative the book covers a geographic span from France to America and down to Mary Kingsley travelling in the Congo. There are many letters written here in Britain, from Jane Austen et al to contemporary writers Fay Weldon and Elaine Feinstein, including also the first female letter known from Roman Britain celebrating women's friendship.
Olga Kenyon's intention is to show that women's letters are a valid form of literature, despite still being relatively neglected, compared to poetry and novels, and she achieves this admirably. Taking account of the feminist approach, studying the older letters for their difference from the present also helps toward our understanding both of the past and of gender formation.
The book is divided into eleven main sections; each section includes an insightful introduction by Olga Kenyon. The letters cover such topics as: How women view their roles, Love and Sexual Passion, Work, War and Alleviating suffering and Political skills.
There are for instance letters from Aphra Benn, (the first professional woman writer in England) forced to ask for money to cover her expenses; Mrs Gaskell considers the balance between housekeeping duties and individual development; Lady Mary Wortley Montagu writes of on her first visit to a Turkish Bath in 1717 (she is perhaps the most interesting letter writer in the English language, though no books of hers were in print when this book was published in 1992). Many letters from less well known women are included such as Isabella Bird whose letters home give an informative view of life for new settlers in the American West of 1873.
These letters reveal honesty, accurate analysis, compassion, humility and love; they give us a new type of history. No previous anthology has presented such rich material of equal interest to historians and the general reader alike.
Olga Kenyon's intention is to show that women's letters are a valid form of literature, despite still being relatively neglected, compared to poetry and novels, and she achieves this admirably. Taking account of the feminist approach, studying the older letters for their difference from the present also helps toward our understanding both of the past and of gender formation.
The book is divided into eleven main sections; each section includes an insightful introduction by Olga Kenyon. The letters cover such topics as: How women view their roles, Love and Sexual Passion, Work, War and Alleviating suffering and Political skills.
There are for instance letters from Aphra Benn, (the first professional woman writer in England) forced to ask for money to cover her expenses; Mrs Gaskell considers the balance between housekeeping duties and individual development; Lady Mary Wortley Montagu writes of on her first visit to a Turkish Bath in 1717 (she is perhaps the most interesting letter writer in the English language, though no books of hers were in print when this book was published in 1992). Many letters from less well known women are included such as Isabella Bird whose letters home give an informative view of life for new settlers in the American West of 1873.
These letters reveal honesty, accurate analysis, compassion, humility and love; they give us a new type of history. No previous anthology has presented such rich material of equal interest to historians and the general reader alike.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book ( in fact I bought 5 altogether) as a present / presents for women who I love and respect. They have all been thrilled by the quality and range of the extracts chosen. I myself, think the forward is superbly written and wonderfully thought provoking.
A great book to own or to give to anyone who enjoys being inspired by the reflections of people from other ages .
A great book to own or to give to anyone who enjoys being inspired by the reflections of people from other ages .
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent and engrossing guide to the lives of women
This is a wonderful book. Arranged according to subject areas (such as Friendship, Marriage and Childbirth, Travellers and Travelling, and Political Skills) it contains a... Read more
Published 22 months ago by MBJM
Inspiring
This book is so inspiring, it takes you into the private worlds of women. It is well put together and the letters are carefully chosen. Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2010 by Ms. D. Hughes
Captivating
My mum bought this for me in the early '90s and I still dip into it - it's comforting to think fellow women have felt like me back through the ages!
Published on 27 Dec 2009 by Bee Woman
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