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The Madwoman's Underclothes: Essays and Occasional Writings
Always strong and fearless, Germaine Greer strikes right at the heart of the matter—be it John F. Kennedy and vaginal deodorants, rape and artificial insemination, cosmetic surgery, the death of Jimi Hendrix, or the famine in Ethiopia. This collection represents a mosaic of essays, long and short, some of which are appearing for the first time in print and all of which chafe the conventional and are bristling with argument.
From the youthful liveliness of her sixties pieces, which “got up everybody’s nose,” to the depth and complexity of her later work, The Madwoman’s Underclothes is a reflection both of an era and of the changing ideas and styles of Germaine Greer: “The essays on Brazil, Cuba, and Ethiopia represent my coming of age. Something like a coherent system of values is beginning to emerge after my years of wandering, although I have certainly not arrived at a set of articles of faith, and never will, I hope.”
Greer’s opinions on social, political, and sexual trends and mores are tendered in her unique fashion—outspoken, with rapier wit and no tolerance for narrow-mindedness. But as explosive, angry, and often funny as these essays are, they also reveal tenderness and sadness and that emotion that underlies all of Greer’s work—passionate commitment.
From the youthful liveliness of her sixties pieces, which “got up everybody’s nose,” to the depth and complexity of her later work, The Madwoman’s Underclothes is a reflection both of an era and of the changing ideas and styles of Germaine Greer: “The essays on Brazil, Cuba, and Ethiopia represent my coming of age. Something like a coherent system of values is beginning to emerge after my years of wandering, although I have certainly not arrived at a set of articles of faith, and never will, I hope.”
Greer’s opinions on social, political, and sexual trends and mores are tendered in her unique fashion—outspoken, with rapier wit and no tolerance for narrow-mindedness. But as explosive, angry, and often funny as these essays are, they also reveal tenderness and sadness and that emotion that underlies all of Greer’s work—passionate commitment.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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367 people want to read
About the author
Germaine Greer
80 books676 followersGermaine Greer is an Australian born writer, journalist and scholar of early modern English literature, widely regarded as one of the most significant feminist voices of the later 20th century.
Greer's ideas have created controversy ever since her ground-breaking The Female Eunuch became an international best-seller in 1970, turning her overnight into a household name and bringing her both adulation and criticism. She is also the author of Sex and Destiny: The Politics of Human Fertility (1984), The Change: Women, Ageing and the Menopause (1991), and most recently Shakespeare's Wife (2007).
Greer's ideas have created controversy ever since her ground-breaking The Female Eunuch became an international best-seller in 1970, turning her overnight into a household name and bringing her both adulation and criticism. She is also the author of Sex and Destiny: The Politics of Human Fertility (1984), The Change: Women, Ageing and the Menopause (1991), and most recently Shakespeare's Wife (2007).
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 19, 2021
I own this book and I'm not sure I remember how it came into my possession. Perhaps a cheap secondhand bookstore find? Germaine Greer is a writer who I know has had a positive influence on many people, despite her many flaws (transphobia, insensitivity about rape, etc). As with all her work, I struggled. Greer is a talented writer, but I find her rather unlikeable as a person, and given that her personality is very present in her writing, well, The Madwoman's Underclothes wasn't the most enjoyable read. I can intellectualise my dislike for her all I want, but I think some of it comes down to personal preference: her tone is extremely abrasive and makes me viscerally uncomfortable. Reading Greer reminds me of being in conversation with a very opinionated person who won't let you get a word in edgeways (have I just described the experience of a lecture?).
This book is also very dated, but that's probably why I bought it. It serves as a time capsule of sorts for what was in ways a simpler time. I found myself marvelling at some of the things Greer did as a young woman, such as hitching rides to her job as a lecturer at Warwick University in the mornings. If you're looking for an essay collection with impeccable feminist politics, you'll be disappointed, but I can't say it's uninteresting.
This book is also very dated, but that's probably why I bought it. It serves as a time capsule of sorts for what was in ways a simpler time. I found myself marvelling at some of the things Greer did as a young woman, such as hitching rides to her job as a lecturer at Warwick University in the mornings. If you're looking for an essay collection with impeccable feminist politics, you'll be disappointed, but I can't say it's uninteresting.
September 14, 2023
Read it "before feminism"--my own journey into feminist politics--and I loved the praises for Cuba and certain cultures and societies before "capitalist intrusion". Strengthened socialist and feminist values I was yet trying to understand.
February 5, 2016
Some pieces are about a personal discovery of a fortunate nature, if only everyone were so fortunate - the remote village in Italy where children do not cry and need not toys, for one.
Some are rather a rap on the knuckles, and for good reason - the westerners who travel and live around the world with poor people, sharing their lives, with a subconscious secure knowledge that they can escape any time, and go back to a life of more, while those that shared their own precious little food with them will be then not sharing the comparative riches of the guests.
Some are perplexing, like the one related to underclothing, until she casually later in another piece mentions it was written as a sarcasm or spoof, in jest.
What it never is, any of these pieces of her writing, is boring or dull or anything less than intelligent andas a norm they are all thought provoking.
Some are rather a rap on the knuckles, and for good reason - the westerners who travel and live around the world with poor people, sharing their lives, with a subconscious secure knowledge that they can escape any time, and go back to a life of more, while those that shared their own precious little food with them will be then not sharing the comparative riches of the guests.
Some are perplexing, like the one related to underclothing, until she casually later in another piece mentions it was written as a sarcasm or spoof, in jest.
What it never is, any of these pieces of her writing, is boring or dull or anything less than intelligent andas a norm they are all thought provoking.
October 21, 2011
This book started off really slowly for me. The early essays involved a lot of music/art references that I only vaguely caught and the language of counterculture sort of grated on my nerves. However, as the essays went on, I found them more and more interesting, particularly the ones that cover her time overseas in Cuba and Ethiopia. Some of what she said resonated with me even today, particularly a line about the right to employment. Worth reading, if not the most fun I've ever had.
June 15, 2016
Another interesting rant by Germaine - always an interesting point of view whether you agree with her or not.
September 10, 2019
I read a fair bit of feminist theory and history in my early 20s. Greer was a favorite.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews