Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; 1. Prejudice and reassessment; 2. Conditions for women writers; Part I. The Early Nineteenth Century: The Age of Napoleon and the Aftermath of Revolution (1800–29): 3. Overview, 1800–29; 4. Foremothers and Germaine de Staël; 5. Writing about history: Henriette de La Tour du Pin; 6. Mad matriarchs and other family members: Sophie Cottin; 7. Rank and disadvantage: Claire de Duras; 8. The invisible women of French theatre; Part II. Mid-century: George Sand and her Contemporaries (1830–69): 9. Overview, 1830–69; 10. George Sand, presiding genius; 11. Confidence and the woman writer: Amable Tastu and Sophie Ulliac-Trémadeure; 12. Shame, embarrassment and Sophie's misfortunes: the comtesse de Ségur; 13. Adventure and travel: Léonie d'Aunet and Flora Tristan; 14. The journalist: Delphine de Girardin; 15. Feeling and poetic technique: Marceline Desbordes-Valmore; 16. Women and politics; Part III. Naturalism and Symbolism: The Beginnings of a New Era (1870–99): 17. Overview, 1870–99; 18. A new boldness: Marcell Tinayre, Louise Ackermann and Gyp; 19. Experiment: naturalism, symbolism and Marie Krysinska; 20. Cruelty to humans and animals: Louise Michel; 21. Rachilde and the horror of gender confusion; 22. Postscript: England; 23. Legacies; Appendices; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

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The most complete critical survey to date of women's literature in nineteenth-century France.

Reviews

'... lucid, nuanced and generous.' Anne Green, The Times Literary Supplement ' ... a very readable and immensely useful book.' Modern Language Review