The Matrilineal Heritage of Louisa May Alcott and Christina Rossetti

Azelina Flint compares the religious communities of Louisa May Alcott and Christina Rossetti, highlighting their rejection of individualistic outlooks. She reveals that their religious beliefs were shaped by the devotional practices and life-writing texts of their matrilineal communities, portraying female artists as mouthpieces for a wider community of women committed to social justice and divine communion. Flint recovers unpublished life-writings, introducing readers to early versions of the authors' iconic works.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In a groundbreaking exploration of the lives and works of two influential nineteenth-century female authors, Azelina Flint delves into the profound influence of the religious communities that shaped their visions of female creativity. At the outset of their careers, Louisa May Alcott and Christina Rossetti found themselves intertwined with two artistic movements that left an indelible mark on American and British history: the Transcendentalists and the Pre-Raphaelites. Flint meticulously uncovers the authors' rejection of the individualistic ideologies prevalent within these movements, revealing that Alcott and Rossetti aligned themselves with the religious faith of their mothers and sisters. Through the lens of womens mysticism, Flint unveils the profound impact of the devotional practices and life-writing texts of their matrilineal communities on the authors' religious beliefs. This insightful analysis offers a fresh perspective on the iconic portrayals of female artists by Alcott and Rossetti, shedding light on their role as vessels for a broader community of women dedicated to social justice and divine communion. In a remarkable feat of scholarship, Flint has recovered a wealth of unpublished life-writings, including commonplace albums and juvenile newspapers, providing readers with a rare glimpse into the early versions of the authors' renowned works. These recovered texts reveal that Alcott and Rossetti portrayed the female artist as a powerful voice for a collective of women seeking to achieve a shared revelation of God. By highlighting the similarities in their familial affiliations and religious convictions, Flint reclaims a tradition of nineteenth-century womens mysticism that diverges from the individualistic models of male literary traditions, ultimately locating female empowerment within gynocentric relationships that are committed to achieving a shared understanding of the divine.

Weight: 354g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367514419