Feminist comedy : women playwrights of London / Willow White.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

White, Willow, author.

Series:

Early modern feminisms

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Women dramatists, English--18th century--Biography.

Women dramatists, English.

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

English drama.

Feminist drama, English--History and criticism.

Feminist drama, English.

Women in the theater--England--London--History--18th century.

Women in the theater.

Physical Description:

xii, 200 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Newark : University of Delaware Press, [2024]

Summary:

"Feminist Comedy: Women Playwrights of London identifies the eighteenth-century comedic stage as a key site of feminist critique, practice, and experimentation. While the history of feminism and comedy is undeniably vexed, by focusing on five women playwrights of the latter half of the eighteenth century--Catherine Clive, Frances Brooke, Frances Burney, Hannah Cowley, and Elizabeth Inchbald--this book demonstrates that stage comedy was crucial to these women's professional success in a male-dominated industry and reveals a unifying thread of feminist critique that connects their works. Though male detractors denied women's comic ability throughout the era, eighteenth-century women playwrights were on the cutting edge of comedy and their work had important feminist influence that can be traced to today's stages and screens"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Comic resurgence : Catherine Clive

Musical comedy : Frances Brooke

Laughter and femininity : Frances Burney

The satirical seraglio : Hannah Cowley

Sentimental comedy and feminism : Elizabeth Inchbald

Conclusion: Feminist comedy 250 years later.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781644533406

1644533405

9781644533413

1644533413

OCLC:

1419280598