A history of feminist literary criticism

cover image

Where to find it

Davis Library (7th floor)

Call Number
PN98.W64 H57 2007
Status
Available

Authors, etc.

Names:

Summary

Feminism has transformed the academic study of literature, fundamentally altering the canon of what is taught and setting new agendas for literary analysis. In this authoritative history of feminist literary criticism, leading scholars chart the development of the practice from the Middle Ages to the present. The first section of the book explores protofeminist thought from the Middle Ages onwards, and analyses the work of pioneers such as Wollstonecraft and Woolf. The second section examines the rise of second-wave feminism and maps its interventions across the twentieth century. A final section examines the impact of postmodernism on feminist thought and practice. This book offers a comprehensive guide to the history and development of feminist literary criticism and a lively reassessment of the main issues and authors in the field. It is essential reading for all students and scholars of feminist writing and literary criticism.

Contents

  • Acknowledgements p. vii
  • Notes on contributors p. viii
  • Introduction p. 1 Gill Plain and Susan Sellers
  • Part I Pioneers and Protofeminism p. 5
  • Introduction to Part I p. 6 Gill Plain
  • 1 Medieval feminist criticism p. 11 Carolyn Dinshaw
  • 2 Feminist criticism in the Renaissance and seventeenth century p. 27 Helen Wilcox
  • 3 Mary Wollstonecraft and her legacy p. 46 Susan Manly
  • 4 The feminist criticism of Virginia Woolf p. 66 Jane Goldman
  • 5 Simone de Beauvoir and the demystification of woman p. 85 Elizabeth Fallaize
  • Part II Creating a Feminist Literary Criticism p. 101
  • Introduction to Part II p. 102 Gill Plain and Susan Sellers
  • 6 Literary representations of women p. 105 Mary Eagleton
  • 7 A history of women's writing p. 120 Helen Carr
  • 8 Autobiography and personal criticism p. 138 Linda Anderson
  • 9 Black feminist criticism p. 154 Arlene R. Keizer
  • 10 Lesbian feminist criticism p. 169 Caroline Gonda
  • 11 Men and feminist criticism p. 187 Calvin Thomas
  • Part III Poststructuralism and Beyond p. 209
  • Introduction to Part III p. 210 Gill Plain and Susan Sellers
  • 12 Feminist criticism and poststructuralism p. 214 Claire Colebrook
  • 13 Feminist criticism and psychoanalysis p. 235 Madelon Sprengnether
  • 14 French feminist criticism and writing the body p. 263 Judith Still
  • 15 Postcolonial feminist criticism p. 282 Chris Weedon
  • 16 Feminist criticism and queer theory p. 301 Heather Love
  • 17 Feminist criticism and technologies of the body p. 322 Stacy Gillis
  • Postscript: flaming feminism? p. 336 Susan Gubar
  • Index p. 342

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