Publishing the Woman Writer in England, 1670-1750

The emergence of the woman writer as a category of authorship in England in the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries is explored in Publishing the Woman Writer in England, 1670-1750. The book argues that authorship was constructed for market appeal, with biography often supporting an authorial persona rooted in the genre of the work. It emphasizes the representation of women writers in paratexts such as prefaces, title pages, portraits, and biographical notes, and suggests a new approach for studying early women writers and others who occupy gaps in the historical record. Case studies include Aphra Behn, Catharine Trotter/Cockburn, Laetitia Pilkington, Marie-Catherine d'Aulnoy, and Anne Dacier.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 13 July 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

In the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, a remarkable phenomenon emerged in the realm of English literature: the rise of the woman writer as a distinct category of authorship. This captivating journey is explored in depth in Publishing the Woman Writer in England, 1670-1750, a groundbreaking work that seeks to unravel the intricate processes that led to the establishment of this new literary genre. Through a comprehensive survey of nearly seven hundred works authored by women during this period, the book makes a compelling argument that authorship was not solely determined by the individual authors but was also meticulously crafted and shaped for market appeal.

The authorship construct was not a fixed entity but rather a dynamic and evolving construct, influenced by various factors, including publishers' desires to establish successful models for a new kind of writer in print. The representation of women writers during this time was diverse, reflecting the publishers' search for successful prototypes that could captivate readers and drive sales.

One of the key insights of the book is its recognition of the importance of paratexts, such as prefaces, title pages, portraits, and biographical notes, in shaping the representation of women writers. These paratexts not only provided essential information about the authors but also helped to construct and reinforce an authorial persona rooted in the genre of the work. The authorship role was more than just a mere identity; it was a performance that was shaped by the interplay between the author, the publisher, and the broader cultural context.

Leah Orr, the author of this insightful work, employs a rich analytical framework to examine the representation of women writers in this period of intense change. Through a meticulous analysis of paratexts and a reception-centered approach, she argues that a new approach is needed for studying early women writers and other individuals who occupy gaps in the historical record. The book demonstrates that a study of the material contexts.

Weight: 666g
Dimension: 240 x 160 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192886293