Table of Contents

Introduction Dale Bauer and Philip Gould; Part I. Historical and Theoretical Backgrounds: 1. The post colonial culture of early American women's writing Rosemarie Zagarri; 2. Women in public Dana Nelson; 3. Antebellum politics and women's writing Stephanie Smith; Part II. Genre, Tradition and Innovation: 4. Captivity and the literary imagination Kathryn Zabelle Derounian-Stodola; 5. Nineteenth-century American women's poetry Elizabeth Petrino; 6. Women at war Shirley Samuels; 7. Women, anti-Catholicism, and narrative in nineteenth-century America Susan Griffin; 8. Immigration and assimilation in nineteenth-century American women's writing Priscilla Wald; Part III. Case Studies: 9. The uses of writing in Margaret Bayard Smith's New Nation Frederika Teute; 10. The sentimental novel: the example of Harriet Beecher Stowe Gail Smith; 11. African-American women's spiritual narratives Yolanda Pierce; 12. The post-bellum writing of Rebecca Harding Davis and Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Lisa Long; 13. Elizabeth Stoddard's The Morgesons Sandra Zagarell; 14. Minnie's Sacrifice: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper's narrative of citizenship Jasmine Griffin; Conclusion Mary Kelley.

Promotional Information

A 2001 Companion providing an overview of the history of writing by women in nineteenth-century America.

Reviews

"Commissioned for students of literature, this collection provides an excellent overview of 19h century women's writing... Including both general and specific indexes, it is an indispensable resource for students of American literature and history at all levels, from general readers and lower-division undergraduates to researchers and faculty." Choice