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Janet: A novel
"He married you under false pretences, as false as they would have been if he had had another wife living at the time."
Reminiscent of the Brontës’ Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Millicent Garrett Fawcett’s Janet Doncaster chronicles a young woman’s struggle for independence. With no fortune, no family to support her, and no practical skills enabling her to earn a living, Janet is lured into an unwanted marriage and must confront an uncertain future.
Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett (1847-1929), known today for her leadership of the British constitutional suffrage movement, distinguished herself initially as an author of works on political economy and women’s rights. Her only novel, first published in 1875, explored the politics of marriage and domesticity at a time when middle-class women were actively challenging the sexual double standard in the realms of law, education, work, and family. Janet Doncaster anticipated the concerns of the New Woman novel, combining Fawcett’s astute political insight with a compelling tale of fidelity, betrayal, and self-determination.
This new edition includes a critical introduction by Lise Shapiro Sanders, explanatory notes, and extensive additional contextual material, including selected writings by Millicent Garrett Fawcett and other early feminist activists; contemporaneous accounts of efforts to reform the laws affecting marriage, divorce, and women's property; Victorian writings on liberalism, political economy, and temperance; and reviews of the novel from the period.
Reminiscent of the Brontës’ Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Millicent Garrett Fawcett’s Janet Doncaster chronicles a young woman’s struggle for independence. With no fortune, no family to support her, and no practical skills enabling her to earn a living, Janet is lured into an unwanted marriage and must confront an uncertain future.
Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett (1847-1929), known today for her leadership of the British constitutional suffrage movement, distinguished herself initially as an author of works on political economy and women’s rights. Her only novel, first published in 1875, explored the politics of marriage and domesticity at a time when middle-class women were actively challenging the sexual double standard in the realms of law, education, work, and family. Janet Doncaster anticipated the concerns of the New Woman novel, combining Fawcett’s astute political insight with a compelling tale of fidelity, betrayal, and self-determination.
This new edition includes a critical introduction by Lise Shapiro Sanders, explanatory notes, and extensive additional contextual material, including selected writings by Millicent Garrett Fawcett and other early feminist activists; contemporaneous accounts of efforts to reform the laws affecting marriage, divorce, and women's property; Victorian writings on liberalism, political economy, and temperance; and reviews of the novel from the period.
- GenresVictorian
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1875
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About the author
Millicent Garrett Fawcett
43 books4 followersDame Millicent Garrett Fawcett was an English political leader, activist and writer, known primarily as a campaigner for women's suffrage.
Fawcett was born on 11 June 1847 in Aldeburgh, to Newson Garrett, an entrepreneur, and his wife Louisa (née Dunnell). She was the eighth of their ten children.
As a child, Fawcett's elder sister Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, who became Britain's first female doctor, introduced her to Emily Davies, an English suffragist. In the biography, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Davies is quoted as saying to Elizabeth, "It is quite clear what has to be done. I must devote myself to securing higher education, while you open the medical profession to women. After these things are done, we must see about getting the vote." She then turned to Millicent: "You are younger than we are, Millie, so you must attend to that."
Aged 19, although unable to sign as a minor, Fawcett collected signatures for the first petition for women's suffrage and became secretary of the London Society for Women's Suffrage. In 1897 Fawcett became President of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, and remained so until 1919. She focused on improving women's chances of higher education, serving as a governor of Bedford College, London (now Royal Holloway) and a co-founder of Newnham College, Cambridge.
Fawcett lived to see British women win the right to vote. She died in 1929, aged 82.
Fawcett was born on 11 June 1847 in Aldeburgh, to Newson Garrett, an entrepreneur, and his wife Louisa (née Dunnell). She was the eighth of their ten children.
As a child, Fawcett's elder sister Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, who became Britain's first female doctor, introduced her to Emily Davies, an English suffragist. In the biography, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Davies is quoted as saying to Elizabeth, "It is quite clear what has to be done. I must devote myself to securing higher education, while you open the medical profession to women. After these things are done, we must see about getting the vote." She then turned to Millicent: "You are younger than we are, Millie, so you must attend to that."
Aged 19, although unable to sign as a minor, Fawcett collected signatures for the first petition for women's suffrage and became secretary of the London Society for Women's Suffrage. In 1897 Fawcett became President of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, and remained so until 1919. She focused on improving women's chances of higher education, serving as a governor of Bedford College, London (now Royal Holloway) and a co-founder of Newnham College, Cambridge.
Fawcett lived to see British women win the right to vote. She died in 1929, aged 82.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 25, 2017
Janet Doncaster is a novel about the rights of women, written in 1875, by Millicent Garnett Fawcett who was a champion of women rights. Janet has nothing but her intelligence going for her, no skills or money, and gets coerced into a marriage with a man whose history has been hid from her. She doesn't accept her fate, she fights for her rights and for the man she truly loves.
Again Victorian Secrets has published a novel from a little know Victorian author and made it available to the modern reader. Great editing, introduction and excellent appendixes makes this edition one to add to your collection of Victorian novels.
Again Victorian Secrets has published a novel from a little know Victorian author and made it available to the modern reader. Great editing, introduction and excellent appendixes makes this edition one to add to your collection of Victorian novels.
September 21, 2024
This story makes me glad I live in a time with no-fault divorce. I pray we keep moving forward...
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews