#Charlotte Bronte best seller

[annamariehamilton-unofficial]

Literary Hot Takes #2: 50 Shades of Grey is Bad Fanfiction of Bad Fanfiction

Remember back when 50 Shades of Grey was taking the best seller list by storm, hands were being wrung, and pearls were being clutched? Well, I was in high school AP Lit class and it suddenly struck me that the plot summary of 50 Shades (from what I'd heard secondhand, anyway) is weirdly similar to Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.

Ok, so, like, hear me out. Naive young woman takes on contract to work for *mysterious* broody ultra-wealthy older man who has #issues and a string of crazy exes, and psychologically abuses her, she leaves, then eventually comes back, he claims he has changed his wicked ways, and they get married and live happily ever after. Of course Jane Eyre is, like, a million times better, but you can't deny the surface similarities.

So, as it turns out, 50 Shades of Grey is bad fanfiction of Twilight, which is itself arguably bad fanfiction of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.

So 50 Shades is literally a bad carbon copy of a bad carbon copy of the Brontes.

And lest you think the chain stops here, there's even a further bad carbon copy of 50 Shades that started as a Harry Styles self-insert Wattpad fanfiction and somehow became a bestselling hit. It's called After by Anna Todd. You're welcome.

[captainmdhridoyhossain-blog]

[ad_1] Participants Jacqui Palumbo, CNNA miniature unpublished manuscript written through Charlotte Brontë when she was once 13 years outdated will cross on sale for $1.25 million at a New York Town guide honest later this month. The paintings titled "A Ebook of Ryhmes through Charlotte Brontë, Offered through No one, and Published through Herself" is smaller than a enjoying card -- but it holds a literary treasure of 10 poems through the "Jane Eyre" writer. The manuscript, dated December 1829, has no longer been observed publicly because it was once bought in New York in 1916, in step with Henry Wessells, an affiliate at James Cummins Bookseller. It was once not too long ago present in a personal assortment, he mentioned.Stitched in combination in its unique brown paper covers, the 15 pages inform stories involving the "subtle imaginary global" of Brontë and her siblings, in step with a press free up from the sellers."They wrote journey tales, dramas, and verse in hand-made manuscript books stuffed with tiny handwriting meant to resemble print," the discharge says.Charlotte Brontë Credit score: ReutersCummins in conjunction with Maggs Bros are the 2 sellers promoting the paintings on the New York World Antiquarian Ebook Truthful on April 21 on the Park Road Armory. "The manuscript was once remaining within the public eye in 1916, and all of us love the tale of an sudden survival," Wessells informed CNN in an e mail. "Now the landlord needs to be sure that it's preserved for long term generations, and, in the end, made to be had to scholarship." Wessells described the manuscript as "an attractive little factor" that was once in moderation put in combination from family scraps of paper and sewn with the unique thread. "The next are makes an attempt at rhyming of an inferior nature it should be stated however they're nonetheless my preferrred," Bronte writes at the manuscript's name web page. And on the finish of the guide, she asserts inventive keep watch over over the imaginary global created through herself and siblings.A shot of the "Ebook of Ryhmes," which comprises a 13-year-old Charlotte Brontë's spelling of the phrase "rhymes." Credit score: Courtesy of James Cummins Bookseller"Simply call to mind the Brontë kids telling and writing tales amongst themselves, studying at house in a far off village, after which blossoming, in short, to write down the books which have been learn through thousands and thousands ever since, and in addition leaving at the back of hand-made issues corresponding to this manuscript," mentioned Wessells, who marveled at how the guide survived during the last century. Brontë and her sisters Emily and Anne wrote one of the vital best-loved novels within the English language, together with "Jane Eyre" (1847), "Wuthering Heights" (1847) and "The Tenant of Wildfell Corridor" (1948).In 2011, any other certainly one of Brontë's tiny handwritten manuscripts bought for $1.07 million. Rival museums introduced a bidding struggle over the object -- which was once penned in 1830 when she was once 14. [ad_2] #miniature #manuscript #written #Charlotte #Brontë #sale #million

[justsimpleaestetic]

[sickofbeingloved]

Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex.

[nerdshyqueenintrovert]

[pandastories11]

Learn Free English Translated Gentle Novel Online!

Looking for historic Chinese xuanhuan and xianxia romance stories, transmigration fiction, mythical Chinese wuxia novels and stories? Among all the web sites to download books of those popular genres, MoboReader is the best one for you! Looking for free guide obtain sites that present the most charming, indulging and intriguing plots and fiction? Read books online free, read free novels on-line, read novels on-line, free novel online, free on-line romance books.

GoodNovel is unfortunately not a completely free on-line novel platform. Because we at GoodNovel want to ensure that our authors can get hold of a steady revenue to supply higher high quality content so that you simply can learn. If you’re on the lookout for any of those internet novels below, then you’ll love GoodNovel for sure.

Numerous changes occurred when the unique web novel was adapted into paperback format. The modifications could be learn within the Adaption Notes part on the respective article for every novel volume and side story. Web Fiction information has an extensive listing of on-line fiction, its personal editorial employees, and an energetic neighborhood of reviewers. Over 200 categories of fiction are listed on their site.

The greatest novels provide readers with the chance to occupy different worlds, occasions, and locations very different from lived experiences. Little did they know then that they had been destined to be together. Hiram, the good-looking younger CEO who might by no means be turned on by a lady, and Rachel, the beauty who by some panda novel  means introduced dangerous luck onto all the boys she went on a date with, had been getting married, in opposition to all odds. ” Ivy did not care about anyone else’s opinion of her, she only care about Hiro’s. When all the proof points out that she cheated on him, how would she be able to win his love back? “From now on, you will not get out of this home.

If you’re on the lookout for classics on-line, the Library of Congress has received you covered. With greater than 60 traditional books obtainable on an easy-to-use interface, this is the right web site in case you have a particular traditional you’re seeking to learn. This archive additionally includes a few of the finest children’s books ever written, like Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella. When you’re accomplished searching this website, ensure you try these nice free audiobooks for kids. Web Novel is a fast growing publisher of on-line fiction.

The website presents books from self-published authors as properly as books which would possibly be a half of the public area. The homepage categorized books into genres together with fiction, fantasy, romance, thrillers, and young grownup and children’s books so you'll be able to simply find a new book to learn. Some books might even have romantic quotes to make you swoon. Once you look by way of books on this site, check out these LGBTQ books. 24Symbols follows a subscription mannequin, however it additionally presents free books to learn on-line. Once you create an account, the website will hook up with your Facebook account and your system to let you read books at no cost on many platforms.

A third spin-off series, titled Sword Art Online Alternative "Clover's Regret", written by Watase Sōichirō and supervised by Kawahara Reki, began publication in June 2016. The sequence focuses on an original cast of characters and their adventures in Asuka Empire. Another spin-off sequence, titled Sword Art Online Alternative "Gun Gale Online", written by Sigsawa Keiichi, illustrated by Kuroboshi Kouhaku, and supervised by Kawahara Reki, began publication in December 2014. The collection focuses on an original forged of characters and their adventures in Gun Gale Online.

It's essential to check novels as a end result of a few of the best-sellers present thrilling views on the occasions during which they have been written or help us understand issues about ourselves. From Charlotte Bronte's advanced relationships to George Orwell's research in totalitarianism, it is time to dive a little deeper. Reading fiction may assist improve our empathy skills and supply the foundation for understanding the human condition.

I was getting really pleased with myself in spite of knowing the consequence of my motion. I was ready to be homeless than to turn into his toy. I did not see this coming however on the second I opened the door, I was swiped away from the bottom. Danish had picked me up together with his proper hand and took me contained in the room as soon as again, slamming the door. He threw me into the wall making my head strike onerous. My head spun as quickly as it hit the wall and my head felt dizzy.

While the net site asks for donations, no fees are required for studying the free on-line books they offer. There are at present more than 56,000 eBooks to choose from, and they're Kindle-compatible and straightforward to obtain. You can load up on the classics from Project Gutenberg before you discover one of the best family audiobooks for your street journey. There you've it, a full listing of websites to begin out studying internet fiction and to create and publish tales of your individual. Wuxia World is one other repository of Chinese and Korean gentle novels. The website is run by a bunch of translators that ship common updates to over thirty stories.

[digbooks-net]

Top 10 Books by Charlotte Bronte

Top 10 Books by #CharlotteBronte (#CurrerBell). #books #fiction #literature #poetry

Reading is a kind of an art form, which includes aspects of creativity, understanding, and interpretation. As a reader, one gets the golden opportunity to dive into the fictitious world of an author and also gets to empathize with the characters created by them. One character, which is so relatable and resonating, is of Jane Eyre, who is the protagonist of the classic novel. Charlotte Bronte is a…

[romancedevoured1]

Danielle steel books

What is the number one romance novel? What is the best romance book of all time?

Based on sales only? That would be The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller. Although “best” is very subjective, we’ve gathered up our pick of the top 60. Click here to check out our favorites! In fact, if you want to discover our picks for the top romance authors, click here!

Here Are The Top 10 Romance Books According to Sales:

The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Love Story by Erich Segal

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Fear of Flying by Erica Jong

Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

Fifty Shades Darker by E. L. James

How do I find a romance novel?

There are many places that you can find romance novels to read. If you prefer physical copies of books then you can pick them up in your local independent bookstore or bookstore chains in shopping centres. You can also get paperbacks or hardbacks delivered direct to your door from online sellers such as Barnes and Noble or Amazon. If you like to read on an electronic device such as smartphone, Kindle, Nook or tablet then you can download books from Barnes and Noble, Amazon or Kobo, amongst many other online retailers. You can also borrow both physical and ebooks from most libraries.

What is the most read romance book?

The most read romance book is Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austin.

What is a good romantic novel to read

There are so many romantic novels out there, it can be hard to know where to begin. But some good romantic novels that we would recommend are as follows:

Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte

Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte

Pride & Prejudice – Jane Austen

It Ends With Us – Colleen Hoover

The Notebook – Nicolas Sparks

Me Before You – Jojo Moyes

Red, White & Royal Blue – Casey McQuiston

Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy

The Duke And I – Julia Quinn

The Princess Bride – William Goldman

[holidays-events]

Women’s History Month: 10 quotes from inspiring women on equal rights Kristen Hubby— 2017

It’s 2017 and the government is still controlling women’s reproductive decisions and the gender wage gap has yet to be closed. However, it’s no small deal that women have been galvanized by such inequity and the current administration, showing up in the millions for Women’s Marches in January and signing up en mass to run for office.

Women have always persevered, though—with words spoken and actions taken against voting rights, land rights, domestic violence, rape culture, and the poor division of household labor. So in honor of Women’s History Month, here are 10 inspiring quotes from women who have fought tirelessly for equal rights—for women, for people of color, for the LGBTQ community, and more.

1) “A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.” —Gloria Steinem Gloria Steinem Equal Rights quotes Gloria Steinem has had a long and inspiring career as a social and political activist. Steinem’s quote throws out the dirty stigma attached to the term “feminist”—harpy, angry, hippy dippy—showing all it refers to is someone who believes men and women should be equals.

2) “No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.” —Michelle Obama Michelle Obama Quotes Equal Rights Photo As first lady, Michelle Obama was an important role model. She wasn’t just likeable; she was also Harvard Law educated and an equal to her presidential husband. She worked toward making American families healthier and advocated for higher education and equality for girls around the world.

3) “There is a great stir about colored men getting their rights, but not a word about the colored women; and if colored men get their rights, and not colored women theirs, you see the colored men will be masters over the women, and it will be just as bad as it was before. So I am for keeping the thing going while things are stirring; because if we wait ’till it is still, it will take a great while to get it going again.” —Sojourner Truth Sojourner Truth Equal Rights quotes At the 1867 Equal Rights Convention in New York, abolitionist and women’s rights activist Sojourner Truth delivered this famous speech, advocating not just for rights of black men post-slavery, but also black women. The former slave was also seen as radical in some progressive circles for championing equality for all women.

4) “There never will be complete equality until women themselves help to make laws and elect lawmakers.” —Susan B. Anthony Susan B. Anthony Equal Rights quotes Susan B. Anthony was pivotal in the women’s suffrage movement, campaigning for equal votings rights for women and African-Americans. She was also imperative in passing laws that allowed women to own property and helped organize training for women to get jobs and form all-female labor unions.

5) “Like being a woman, like being a racial, religious, tribal, or ethnic minority, being LGBT does not make you less human. And that is why gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights.” —Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton Equal Rights Quotes Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the first woman nominated by a major political party for president. Both her 2016 campaign and her defeat were historic—the gender politics brought up during the election fired up the left to speak out against inequality and inspired the Women’s Marches around the world. Though she lost the bid for office, she did win the popular vote by a historic 3 million votes.

6) “We cannot succeed when half of us are held back. We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave, to embrace the strength within themselves and realize their full potential.” —Malala Yousafzai Malala Yousafzai Equal Rights Quotes At just 10 years old, Malala Yousafzai spoke out against the Taliban, blogging anonymously for the BBC about her desire for an education in an area of Pakistan where hundreds of schools had been destroyed. She continued to advocate for the education of young girls even after she was shot by the Taliban in 2012. Two years later, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the youngest person to ever hold the honor.

7) “Women are supposed to be very calm generally, but women feel as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer.” —Charlotte Brontë Womens History Month: Charlotte Bronte Charlotte Brontë was a poet and author, most known for her novel Jane Eyre, which was groundbreaking during the Victorian era for its female perspective. In her personal life, Brontë defied gender roles as well, opting for the independence of writing and thinking rather than taking up marriage and motherhood as a young woman.

8) “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” —Maya Angelou Womens History Month: Maya Angelou   Poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou’s 1969 memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, became the first nonfiction best-seller by an African-American woman. She has written numerous other works including six more memoirs, as well as plays, movies, poetry, and books of essays—many of which are cited in classrooms throughout the country.

9) “Marriage equality does not diminish the worth of your relationships; it simply recognizes the worth of ours.” —Penny Wong Women's History Month: Penny Wong Screengrab   Penny Wong is the first woman to become Australia’s leader of the opposition in the Senate. Wong, who is also lesbian, is a vocal advocate for marriage equality in her country.

10) “I demanded more rights for women because I know what women had to put up with.” —Eva Perón Women's History Month: Eva Peron Eva Perón, Argentina’s first lady from 1946 to 1952, utilized her position to fight for women’s rights and the poor. Perón motivated women to exercise their right to vote and run for office, founding the country’s first large women-only political party called the Female Perónist Party.

https://www.dailydot.com/irl/womens-history-month-quotes/

[news-mashable-yahoopartner-blog]

20 stunning editions of classic books you'll want to add to your library

Books are the gift that keep on giving.

Not only are the stories within them capable of transporting you to far off lands and through thrilling tales, but they are prized for their beauty as well.

Yes, we know you aren't supposed to judge a book by its cover, but come on, book covers matter. It's the reason why publishers constantly push out new editions of old books. If repackaged properly, an old book can become just as popular as a new one.

Moreover, book covers are actually, literally judged. There are competitions and awards for book cover design. So don't feel bad if you find yourself trading in an older copy of a classic novel for a newer, sleeker edition. We guarantee that you're not the only one doing it and we're here to help.

SEE ALSO: Endlessly creative bookstores show how much we still need more books from women

We've compiled some of the most stunning editions of classic novels you should think about adding to your bookshelf, because they are simply too beautiful not to buy. Some of them are from very limited runs and may be tough to find, but knowing they exist is the first step.

Welcome to your beautiful future library.

1. Dune by Frank Herbert

A post shared by Ajay Kotian (@lordalbus) on Feb 6, 2017 at 1:19am PST

This edition of Dune is part of Penguin Random House's Penguin Galaxy collection, a celebration of some of the best sci-fi novels of our time. Other titles in the series include 2001: A Space Odyssey and Stranger in a Strange Land.

Price: $17.85 on Amazon

2. House-themed Harry Potter set

A post shared by Juniper Books (@juniperbooks) on Mar 31, 2017 at 7:22am PDT

If you are unaware, Juniper Books specializes in taking some of your favorite books and wrapping them in exquisite book jackets, especially books sets. The above Harry Potter sets are just some examples of their work. As you can see, all Hogwarts Houses are represented so that you can make sure to get the set that fits your needs. But be warned that they are not cheap.

Price: $275

3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

A post shared by Jude | Vancouver (@mybookbath) on Jan 28, 2017 at 2:04pm PST

The editions of Pride and Prejudice that exist in the world are countless, but this one is the only one that matters. The book is part of the Faux Leather Edition series done by Penguin and includes many other classic novels as well.

Price: $39.99

4. The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald

A post shared by Steff (@pekingenten) on Dec 23, 2015 at 9:22pm PST

If you're going to read a book about the Jazz Age, you might as well make sure the book looks like the Jazz Age. Penguin released a line of hardcover F. Scott Fitzgerald books all draped with beautiful gold foil designs that veritably scream of the Roaring '20s. 

Price: $26

5. The Illiad and The Odyssey by Homer

A post shared by Ashley H (@biblio.babble) on Mar 27, 2017 at 6:23am PDT

Perfectly capturing the tumult that is in both of Homer's classic tales, this Barnes & Noble Collectible Edition of both epic poems together make the stories look as cool as they deserve to be. The only downside of this version is how thick it is. While it looks good on the shelf, it may be impractical to actually read.

Price: $32.57+

6. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

A post shared by Jem Cope (@jemlovesbooks) on Mar 27, 2017 at 8:36am PDT

This small and stately copy of one of Jane Austen's classics was designed by Mr. Boddington Studio's. Unfortunately, this particular copy of the book is no longer being produced so if you must have this edition, you'll need to be willing to pay a hefty price to a reseller.

Price: $285.86+ from Amazon

7. 1984 by George Orwell

Image: the folio society

You probably already have a copy of 1984, either from school or from buying it after the ascendency of our new president. But if you are still missing this Orwell classic in your life, why not get an edition that embodies the full-on creepiness of the story itself?

Price: $56.95

8. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce

A post shared by Dean (@deansreads) on Apr 8, 2017 at 3:58am PDT

James Joyce isn't everything's favorite author, but a cover this beautiful will have no trouble at all ingratiating itself right onto your shelves. Added bonus: This book is also known as one of Joyce's most approachable novels, so you should actually try reading it instead of just looking at it.

Price: $17

9. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

A post shared by Aria Violet (@aria_violet66) on Apr 2, 2017 at 2:17pm PDT

Joseph Conrad's classic tale gets revived in this fully illustrated version of Heart of Darkness from Tin House. Now you not only can read about the horror, but you can see it too.

Price: $20

10. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

A post shared by Coralie Bickford-Smith (@coraliebickfordsmith) on Apr 5, 2017 at 2:28am PDT

Just one of many gorgeous Penguin Clothbound Classics, this robust tale of adventure gets a more modern makeover with a cute pattern of elegant jellyfish. These will be hitting bookshelves in July, but can be pre-ordered online now.

Price: $24

11. The Lord of the Rings trilogy

A post shared by Bluestocking Bookshelf | Jen🇺🇸 (@bluestockingbookshelf) on Jan 20, 2017 at 6:17am PST

It feels like every publisher has its own version of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and this makes it difficult for those of us trying to find the absolutely best edition of the series, one that appropriately invokes the fantasy of the story while also looking beautiful on the shelf. Look no further than this Juniper Books set. Together, the spines of the three books come together to make the fabled Doors of Durin. Speak friend, and buy this set right away.

Price: $95

12. Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

A post shared by Mark (@reallyfoxed) on May 10, 2016 at 8:59am PDT

White's Books released an impeccably designed set of classic novels in 2010 that included this edition of Sherlock Holmes. The books were instantly popular among book lovers and were snatched up relatively quickly. Now that these books have stopped being produced, securing yourself a copy can be quite difficult and the price you'll need to pay varies depending on the third-party seller.

Price: $9.89+ on Amazon

13. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

A post shared by Aamina Ali (@min_ah365) on Apr 7, 2017 at 5:24pm PDT

Penguin Drop Caps, a series of 26 books that highlight one great author per letter in the alphabet, may be the most Instagrammable books ever created. The cover of each simply features the first letter of the author's last name, but each uniquely designed to fit the tone and context of the book. With a stately B for Bronte going up in flames, this book is the right way to read Jane Eyre.

Price: $22

14. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

A post shared by Southcart Books & Comics (@southcart_books_and_comics) on Mar 15, 2017 at 2:59pm PDT

Just in time for the TV adaption on Starz, this collector's edition of Neil Gaiman's popular novel puts all other editions of American Gods to shame. Illustrator David McKean created 12 incredible illustrations to accompany this version of the book, including three double-page spreads.

Price: $120

15. The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1,001 Nights boxed set

Image: amazon

Here's another stunning boxed set that can only be purchased through third-party sellers, because nice-looking books are apparently in high demand. This clean and sophisticated book set for Arabian Nights is designed by the same person who does Penguin's Clothbound Classics series and the Fitzgerald series above.

Price: $499.75+ on Amazon

16. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

A post shared by Maple and Palm Creative (@mapleandpalm) on Apr 12, 2017 at 8:05am PDT

Colorful, whimsical, and cute, this edition of Anne of Green Gables would be right at home on both child and adult bookshelves. This book is part of the Puffin in Bloom series, a collection of four tales for children all designed with a similar theme of bright flowers and flowing typography.

Price: $16

17. The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Image: Penguin random house

Embrace the darkness with this edition of Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem, The Raven. Not only does it have a compelling cover, but the book is part of the Penguin Horror series which was curated by filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. If he approved this edition, it's probably fit to go on your bookshelf.

Price; $23

18. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

A post shared by Maddie (@blighted_star) on Oct 30, 2016 at 4:55am PDT

As another perfect entry in the Penguin's Clothbound Classics series, this cover of The Count of Monte Cristo hints at the intrigue and drama this story is all about.

Price: $30

19. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

A post shared by Jolene (@jolenecreation) on Mar 8, 2017 at 4:21am PST

You could probably dedicate an entire bookshelf to different editions of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and you still wouldn't have enough room to fit them all. But it's hard not to want to collect them all because so many of them look so good, like this edition from Barnes & Noble's Collectible Edition Series.

Price: $21.48

20. Moby Dick by Herman Melville

A post shared by Ands (@andsreads) on Mar 19, 2017 at 4:48am PDT

Moby Dick is long. To attempt to read it is basically the literary version of hunting down Captain Ahab's infamous white whale. But the challenge of reading it seems less daunting if you are tackling the feat with this edition of the classic.

Price: $9.68+ on Amazon

WATCH: Someone designed a notebook that can last forever

[jovialcollectornightmareuni-blog]

Mary Wollstonecraft a legacy in language

 Mary Wollstonecraft: a legacy in language

Mary Wollstonecraft: a legacy in language

April 27 1759 is the birthday of Mary Wollstonecraft, remembered today as one of the earliest modern feminists (although the Oxford English Dictionary doesn’t record the word ‘feminist’ in usage until 1852). Her work A Vindication of the Rights of Woman is a landmark text in the history of feminist writing, appearing, as it did, at a time when women were not permitted the right to an education, and when many men were discussing whether they should be formally educated at all. Wollstonecraft was part of a cluster of great writers at the tail end of the eighteenth-century, and eventually married the political philosopher William Godwin. They were the parents of Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein.

It might surprise us today that some of Wollstonecraft’s writing was decidedly non-radical; her first book, for instance, was a didactic work on female manners entitled Thoughts on the Education of Daughters. But, though there were indeed many other notable women writers in the late 1700s, Wollstonecraft did develop a unique voice, and appearance, as a philosophical firebrand. She took to wearing coarse and unflattering garments, and let her hair hang loose about her shoulders, eschewing her own earlier moralistic advice to daughters. And, by the time she was in her thirties, she was turning her writerly attention towards women’s rights.

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman was published in 1792, and its title is a play on Wollstonecraft’s own earlier pamphlet on Republicanism, A Vindication of the Rights of Man (where ‘man’ is used in the universalising sense, as in ‘mankind’). Written as a contribution to heated debates about gender equality that had sprung up against the backdrop of the French Revolution, Wollstonecraft produced her 300-plus page book in around three months – an extraordinary feat – and it became an immediate best-seller. The substance of the book itself is less a defence of women than it is an examination of how women might come to appear ‘irrational’ or ‘frivolous’, in Wollstonecraft’s own words. By using these and similar derogatory terms, Wollstonecraft is apparently taking up the rhetoric of misogyny. However, she uses this rhetoric to argue that woman only appears inferior to man because man has deprived woman of proper educational rights. Women are ‘rendered weak and wretched’ not by nature, but by what we might now call patriarchal culture. The book is, in this sense, a precursor to Virginia Woolf’s essay ‘A Room of One’s Own’, which argues that, for great writing to flourish, the right material conditions and rights must first be granted to women writers.

The Vindication is frequently cited in the OED, and the words that Wollstonecraft’s name sits alongside often relate to her critique of female behaviour and types. Woman, she felt, was expected only to fashion herself as something ‘marriageable’, leaving her unfit for matters ‘intelligential’ – two uncommon words that she provides example for in the dictionary. Further dictionary examples are found when she writes that society makes a virtue of a woman’s ‘bashfulness’ and of ‘maidenish’ behaviour, and treats with contempt any deviation from these norms. There is a study of the figure of the ‘coquet’, and of ‘coquettish’ behaviour (meaning ‘flirtatiousness’), another pair of examples she provides in the OED. She also gives evidence of the phrase ‘over-exercised’; woman is, by the routines expected of a house-wife, left over-exercised and is unable to think creatively or intellectually. And, in an early example of the word ‘sexual’ used to refer to an issue of gender, Wollstonecraft sums up the thesis of her work elegantly: ‘A mistaken education, a narrow uncultivated mind, and many sexual prejudices, tend to make women more constant than men’. As Simone de Beauvoir would write, much later, in The Second Sex: “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman”.

The final thesis of the book, that woman should and must be permitted the same education as men, as a matter of human rights, is of significance in the history of humanism and equal rights, and Wollstonecraft is still considered an important voice in the struggle for gender equality today. There is, of course, an irony here – Wollstonecraft still matters to us now because we have not yet absorbed the message of feminism.

But there is a worse irony in the reception of Wollstonecraft. Wollstonecraft died only five years after the publication of the Vindication, in the act of giving birth to her daughter Mary; the following year, her well-meaning but perhaps misguided husband Godwin published the volume Memoirs of the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman – a book that shocked the public with candid accounts of Wollstonecraft’s sexual history and several attempts she had made to end her own life. It proved to be greatly damaging to her reputation, and accounts of Wollstonecraft as an immoralist and a dangerously irreligious thinker dogged her memory across the nineteenth century. It is a sorry thing that Wollstonecraft, the great ‘proto-feminist’ as she is called today, was understood for so long by her representation by a man. And it is sad, too, that Wollstonecraft’s own homage to her husband is recorded in one of the very few words in the OED for which she gives the earliest example: Godwinian, ‘An adherent of William Godwin’s radical views on politics, social reform, etc’.

The opinions and other information contained in OxfordWords blog posts and comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Oxford University Press.

Chris Townsend

Chris Townsend recently received his doctorate in English Literature from the University of Cambridge. He writes on literary history and biography, and he edits for the King's Review magazine. You can follow him on Twitter @marmeladrome.

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