Women's contribution to the development of the English novel: 1621-1818
Institution: | University College Cork |
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Department: | |
Year: | 1939 |
Keywords: | Pastoral Romance; The epistolary novel; The domestic novel; The Gothic novel; The didactic novel; Jane Austen; Pastoral romance; Women's contribution to English literature; English fiction – Women authors – History and criticism |
Record ID: | 1548542 |
Full text PDF: | http://hdl.handle.net/10468/1528 |
Accepted Version Women's contribution to literature is no arbitrary or artificial distinction. However much the reformer may welcome, or the conservative lament, the growth of a harmonious sharing of ideals between men and women, that growth has been a hard-fought struggle. It has been an escape from a prison, which, when it did not entirely shut out the greater world, at least enclosed a little world of education meant for women, literature adapted to the supposed limitations of their intellect, and a course of action prescribed by the other sex. To show how the literary efforts of women developed and justified their claims to free activity is the purpose of this thesis.