Decadent Women: Yellow Book Lives

During the 1890s, British women left their family homes to seek work, accommodation, and financial and sexual freedom. Decadent Women is an account of these women who wrote for The Yellow Book, including aristocrats and poor women, pioneering a new style in a literary marketplace and experiencing poverty, squalor, disease, and unwanted pregnancy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 408 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2023
Publisher: Reaktion Books

In the vibrant decade of the 1890s, a remarkable shift occurred as British women embarked on a journey of emancipation, leaving their familial homes in search of employment, accommodation, financial independence, and sexual liberation. This transformative era gave rise to a group of remarkable individuals known as Decadent Women, who actively contributed their talents to the avant-garde art and literary journal, The Yellow Book. Through extensive original research, author Jad Adams has unveiled the captivating lives and remarkable work of these diverse and passionate women, ranging from well-connected and fashionable aristocrats to the destitute and marginalized. Adams delves into the hardships they faced in a literary marketplace dominated by men, showcasing their pioneering spirit as they carved a new path, embracing lives of thrilling adventure, romance, and, unfortunately, poverty, squalor, disease, and unwanted pregnancies.

These Decadent Women were a testament to the changing societal norms of their time, defying the expectations and restrictions imposed upon them. They embraced their individuality, expressed their thoughts and ideas through their writing, and challenged the dominant male-dominated narrative. Their contributions to The Yellow Book not only enriched the literary landscape but also left a lasting impact on the feminist movement of the era.

Through their stories, Adams provides a glimpse into the lives of these remarkable women, exploring their struggles, triumphs, and the indomitable spirit that drove them to pursue their dreams amidst societal adversity. Decadent Women serves as a tribute to the resilience and determination of these pioneering women, who paved the way for future generations of women to seek equality and freedom in a world that was often hostile and unforgiving.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789147896