British Women Satirists in the Long Eighteenth Century

This collection of essays explores the contributions of eighteenth-century British women satirists to the satiric tradition, challenging the notion that women were solely targets of satire. It examines women's satires across various genres and highlights their appropriation of a literary style often considered masculine. The introduction presents a new theory of women's satire and proposes a framework for analyzing their satiric techniques. The essays address a wide range of authors and demonstrate how satiric writings by women engaged in contemporary cultural conversations, influencing assumptions about gender, sociability, politics, and literary practices.

Format: Hardback
Length: 276 pages
Publication date: 07 April 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This captivating collection of thought-provoking essays, penned by esteemed scholars, delves into the profound contributions of eighteenth-century British women satirists to the art of satire. It challenges the prevailing notion that women were merely the targets of satire rather than active practitioners during this long historical era. The essays explore a diverse range of satires across various genres, including fables and periodicals, highlighting how women writers deftly appropriated a literary style and form that was traditionally associated with masculinity. The introduction presents a groundbreaking theory of women's satire, offering a framework for analyzing the unique techniques employed by these remarkable authors. The essays, arranged chronologically, delve into the works of numerous authors and examine how their satires engaged in contemporary cultural conversations, shaping perceptions about gender, sociability, politics, and literary practices. This inclusive yet meticulously curated collection emerges as a groundbreaking feminist theory of satire, offering a fresh perspective on the genre and its enduring impact.

ISBN-13: 9781108837361