Table of Contents

Contents: Flora Tristan's brief life (1803-44) is representative of a broad array of nineteenth century women's issues: marriage, divorce, inheritance and child custody laws; severely limited education; minimal job opportunities; poor pay; double sexual standards; physical frailty, sickness and concern with dress reform. Unlike the majority of her contemporaries, Tristan assumed control of her destiny and became a powerful leader of men and women. Recent re-editions and translations of Tristan's work call for a new interpretation of her life.

Reviews

Flora Tristan pioneered in thinking about the working class, its woman, and the role of family life in building solidarity. Laura Strumingher's mature reading of Tristan's vision combines biography, theory, and analysis in a pleasing, new way. (Bonnie G. Smith, Associate Professor of History) This is an excellent biography, faithful to its subject and rich in suggestions for complementary literary studies of Flora Tristan's feminst approach to writing. Furthermore, it provides the most accessible, most complete introduction to the writer available in English, including a full index and bibliography. It is an impressive study that should be appreciated by both scholars and general readers. (Mary Rice-DeFosse, Nineteenth Century French Studies)