Madam Britannia: Women, Church, and Nation 1712-1812

by Emma Major

Madam Women, Church, and Nation, 1712-1812 explores the complex and fascinating relationship between women, Protestantism, and nationhood. Opening with a history of Britannia, this book argues that Britannia becomes increasingly popular as a national emblem from 1688 onwards. Over the eighteenth century, depictions of Britannia become exemplary as well as emblematic, her behaviour to be imitated as well as admired. Britannia takes life during the eighteenth century, stepping out of iconic representation on coins, out of the pages of James Thomson's poetry, down from the stage of David Mallett's plays, the frames of Francis Hayman and William Hogarth's paintings, and John Flaxman's monuments to enter people's lives as an identity to be experienced.

One of the key strands explored in this book is Britannia's relationship to female personifications of the Church of England, which themselves often drew on key Protestant Queens such as Elizabeth I and Anne. But during the eighteenth century, Britannia also gained cultural status by being a female figure of nationhood at a time when Enlightenment historians developed conjectural histories which placed women at the centre of civilization. Women's religion, conversation, and social practice thus had a new resonance in this new, self-consciously civilized age. In this book, Emma Major looks at how narratives of faith, national identity, and civilisation allowed women such as Elizabeth Burnet, Elizabeth Montagu, Catherine Talbot, Anna Laetitia Barbauld, Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi, and Hannah More to see themselves as active agents in the shaping of the nation.

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 13, 2012

About the author

Emma Major is a pioneer lay minister, blind wheelchair user, artist and poet.
She has poems included in numerous books as well as writing her own collections of poetry on miscarriage, mental health and climate change.

"Caring for Creation Together" was published by Wild Goose Publications in February 2022. This series of 40 full-colour visionary paintings, poems and reflections highlighting issues of climate justice and asking ‘How can we bring about positive change together? was first shown at COP26 by Tearfund.

Early 2022 saw the publication of "Lights Stuck On Red" by Ink Gladiators Press; a book about the journey through Lockdown in poetry and abstract paintings.

In late 2021 "Dormiveglia" Emma's book of art and poetry about Living with Long Covid was published by Ink Gladiators Press.

In 2020 her first book combining both poetry and art was published "Little Guy: Journey of Hope" by Wild Goose Publications.

In 2021 Emma's first exhibition of paintings and poems "Caring for Creation" was exhibited around Berkshire; it will be hosted at COP26 in Glasgow in November. She currently has paintings in two other exhibitions and has a number of books of poetry and paintings in various stages of publication.

You can find Emma online at LLMCalling.com or on social media @emmuk74 where she shares her artwork and poetry to encourage, bless and affirm people.

I have been blogging since 2009 about faith, life, disability, mental health and more at http://llmcalling.com

You can follow me on Twitter @emmuk74
Find me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/emmuk74/

You can find me on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/llmcalling/

If you'd like to get even closer to my creativity you are welcome join my Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/emmuk74/

Little Guy also has a Facebook presence if you'd like to follow him:
https://facebook.com/littleguybook/