The Cambridge Companion to Nineteenth-Century American Women’s Writing

Providing an overview of the history of writing by women in the period, this Companion establishes the context in which this writing emerged, and traces the origin of the terms which have traditionally defined the debate. It includes essays on topics of recent concern, such as women and war, erotic violence, the liberating and disciplinary effects of religion, and examines the work of a variety of women writers, including Harriet Beecher Stowe, Rebecca Harding Davis and Louisa May Alcott. The volume plots new directions for the study of American literary history, and provides several valuable tools for students, including a chronology of works and suggestions for further reading.

• Contributions are provided by acknowledged specialists in the field • The essays provide scholarly depth of analysis on a broad range of topics • The volume is well supported by a detailed chronology and bibliography

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.