Female communities, 1600-1800 : literary visions and cultural realities / edited by Rebecca D'Monté and Nicole Pohl.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

D'Monté, Rebecca, 1957-

Pohl, Nicole, 1961-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

English literature--Early modern, 1500-1700--History and criticism.

English literature.

Women and literature--Great Britain--History--17th century.

Women and literature.

Community life.

History.

Great Britain.

Women and literature--Great Britain--History--18th century.

English literature--Women authors--History and criticism.

English literature--Women authors.

English literature--18th century--History and criticism.

Community life--Great Britain--History--17th century.

Community life--Great Britain--History--18th century.

Community life in literature.

Group identity in literature.

Communities in literature.

Physical Description:

xvi, 264 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire : Macmillan Press ; New York : St. Martin's Press in association with the Institute of English Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London, 2000.

Summary:

This collection of essays explores for the first time both fictional and actual visions by early modern women of female communities in Great Britain. These projections of ideal worlds speak of women's social and political impotence and are thus concerned with fundamental issues of power and access to knowledge and space. They are characterized by a utopian concept of community, bringing with it associations of sisterhood, support networks, female friendships, and companionship, be they between sisters, queen and attendants, writers, readers, or lesbian lovers.

Contents:

My desires

lie

wrapt up now in folds of losse / Susan Donahue

For virgin buildings oft brought forth / Kate Chedgzoy

Come to live a preaching life / Elaine Hobby

Mirroring female power / Rebecca D'Monté

My fine delitive tomb / Marion Wynne-Davies

Mary Astell's Excited needles / Alessa Johns

In this sacred space / Nicole Pohl

Women's providence / Gary Kelly

Sisterhood and Sarah Fielding / Linda Bree

Protected witnesses / Susan Lamb

virtuous knowledge women's truest pride / Elizabeth Child.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 238-257) and index.

ISBN:

0333734432

0312230214

OCLC:

42413380