Classic Works from Women Writers

by Editors of Canterbury Classics (Editor), A.J. Odasso (Introduction)

An alternative cover edition can be found here.

A fine collection of classic novels, short stories, poems, and essays from distinguished women writers.

Women writers have been making their voices heard for centuries, but their works were not always taken seriously. Over time, as women gained more social and political freedom, these works have reemerged as subjects that are considered to be worthy of closer study. Classic Works from Women Writers is a collection of more than thirty novels, short stories, poems, and essays by prominent and lesser-known female writers since the 17th century. Included in this volume are groundbreaking works such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles, the first Hercule Poirot novel; Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” and her follow-up essay; and poetry from the likes of Christina Rossetti, Amy Lowell, and Sara Teasdale. The words of these authors offer a multitude of perspectives on different issues that affect not only women but the wider world as well.
 

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Feminism, Short Stories, Anthologies, Poetry, Collections

896 pages, Leather Bound

Published October 2, 2018

Reviews

[Flybyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This giant beast has taken up my 6 months and it was worth every minute I spent on it.
The collection includes all the classic stories of most famous women authors some of whom I had never heard of before. The anthology consists of a variety of genres from romance to horror and covers the majority of well-known classic authors including Agatha Christie, Jane Austen, Louise May Alcott, George Elliot, All three Bronte sisters and Virginia Woolf.

A wonderful journey to uncharted territories full of surprises, absolutely recommended!

[LibbyZally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew what a collection. Some of these are really dense. Agatha Christie, However, I did enjoy my first story of hers, “A Mysterious Affair at Styles”. Secondly, “Cousin Phillis” is a sweet tale of first love. “Frankenstein” I was really excited about but made it to Chapter four. Am I the only one who detested “Frankenstein”? I was ready for someone to tell a joke. I enjoyed reading “Luella Miller”; I was not expecting a horror in this collection. “Xingu” was actually pretty comical. I love the Bronte Sisters. Such diverse range of style, really balances them out. There are so many!

[Yinzadi]

Table of Contents
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (1915)
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1892)
Why I Wrote The Yellow Wallpaper by ibid. (1913)
Letter to Fanny Knight by Jane Austen (1814)
Cousin Phillis by Elizabeth Gaskell (1864)
Luella Miller by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1903)
Life by Charlotte Bronte (1846)
Stars by Emily Bronte (1846)
Dreams by Anne Bronte (1846)
Silly Novels by Lady Novelists by George Eliot (1856)
Excerpt from The Romance of the Forest by Ann Radcliffe (1791)
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818)
Contemplations by Anne Bradstreet (1650)
A Call by Grace MacGowan Cooke (1906)
Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti (1862)
On the Gulls’ Road by Willa Cather (1908)
Poems by Emily Dickinson (1890) (I Had No Time to Hate (763), Because I Could Not Stop for Death (479), Hope Is the Thing with Feathers (314), Wild Nights! Wild Nights! (269))
The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf (1915)
Renascence by Edna St. Vincent Millay (1912)
Xingu by Edith Wharton (1916)
Patterns by Amy Lowell (1917)
The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield (1922)
Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein (1914)
The Shadowy Third by Ellen Glasgow (1916)
Afterward by Edith Wharton (1910)
Poems by Sara Teasdale (1920) (Barter, There Will Come Soft Rains, Winter Stars)

Audio versions, for those who like to read along in a book while listening to an audiobook.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
The Yellow Wallpaper and Why I Wrote "The Yellow Wallpaper", The Yellow Wallpaper
Cousin Phillis
Luella Miller
Silly Novels by Lady Novelists
The Romance of the Forest
Frankenstein, Frankenstein, Frankenstein, Frankenstein
A Call
Goblin Market, Goblin Market
On the Gulls' Road
Hope Is the Thing With Feathers: The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson
The Voyage Out, The Voyage Out
Renascence
Xingu, Xingu, Xingu and More
The Garden Party and Other Stories, Classic Womens Short Stories
Tender Buttons
The Shadowy Third
The Wharton Gothics: Stories of the Unnatural and the Supernatural

[Rissa (rissasreading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I personally enjoyed the variety of stories but I don't like that this explicitly states this is anglophone (English/Caucasian) writers. So this limits the voices telling stories in this collection. However, I did find some enjoyment from this collection. I was able to find a favorite of each. A favorite poem, short and novel that was included. I was really surprised to see some horror in here and I really enjoyed the story too! I love the care that went into creating this collection as it's a hardcover with lots of detailing, and gold trimmed pages. It's very beautiful! Classic in this sense just isn't my thing however. I found the stories too slow and dry for me. I was able to pull some interest from them however as it features female protagonists. It shows how times have changed but women are still aching for change and to be let free from what holds us back (i.e. men in power, misogyny, racism and classism etc.), I found that to be incredibly interesting considering the current times we are in

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the leatherbounds my husband gave me for our paper anniversary.

A very good collection! I was surprised that whole books were included in it too, like The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Frankenstein, The Voyage Out and Cousin Phyllis. Those really padded this out to the almost 900 pages it is.
Pretty enjoyable, and it's also a very beautiful edition. Recommended!

[Teresita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty extensive collection. Nice and easy to read. It does include whole books in there such as Frankenstein as well as poems and letters which are nice. I skipped some because I had already read them. I think it would've been nice to learn a bit more about the authors in the foreword or before each section.

[Jay]

not gonna rate this cause there are 26 different stories in this and I have 26 different opinions but I CANT BELIEVE I FINALLY FINISHED THIS

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A broad selection of works from "the most distinct and artistically accomplished voices to emerge in Anglophone literature between the seventeenth and twentieth centuries." (vii) Which does narrow the focus considerably. I'd love to read the edition that uses women authors from around the world. I didn't realize that wasn't what this was until I finished it. I really enjoyed it, but it's definitely not a culturally or ethnically diverse publication. It was much more stylistically diverse than I was expecting though. Poetry and letters are interspersed among short stories and a couple full novels; Frankenstein is 150 pages and The Voyage Out is nearly 300. Gertrude Stein's Tender Buttons lets you flex your interpretive chops against her "verbal cubism," while Edith Wharton loads up sassy social commentary and Ellen Glasgow wraps you in creeping dread. There's the standard low-grade racism you get in works written in the late 1800's - early 1900's, which is where most of these hail from, but beyond that little to warn about in terms of content. It's an enjoyable read and gives you a solid base from which to further your exploration of women writers. Sadly, you'll need to do more footwork if you want your horizons to include female authors who aren't white.

[emilusha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection! I used to find Classics quite boring and bland, but this collection definitely changed my thoughts about this genre.

I liked some of the short stories and poems more than others.
Some of my favorites' include:
- The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf by Agatha Christie
- The Mysterious Affair at Styles
- Poems by Sara Teasdale

I enjoyed every story and poem in this collection except Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein. I detested it, because I didn't understand it whatsoever. Seemed to me like utter nonsense, but I can understand why some might enjoy it.

It took me a very long time to finish this collection, but it was absolutely worth it once I did.
I'd definitely recommend any enjoyer of Classics to give it a try.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this collection of short stories, novels, letters and poetry by women writers ...I don't want it to end! I loved the fact that the poetry and prose is interspersed throughout.
I am going back over some parts of the book to lest I forget! The introduction is excellent. I went back several times to reread about each author and her writing before reading a new piece and often during my reading! It is also such a beautiful bound collection and edition! I recommend it highly! If your library doesn't already own a copy, make sure they order one!

[Zoe Artemis Spencer Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good selection of stories, poems, non-fic writing from prominent American and English female writers of mostly 19th and 20th century, several I haven't heard of before. I liked most of them, very enjoyable and vary in writing style.

My favorites are:
Stars, a poem by Emily Bronte (1846)
Goblin Market, a poem/fairy tale by Christina Rossetti (1862)
Luella Miller by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1903)
A Call by Grace MacGowan Cooke (1906)
On the Gulls' Road by Willa Cather (1908)
Afterward by Edith Wharton (1910)
The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf (1915)
Xingu by Edith Wharton (1916)

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting collection of short stories, poetry, essays and commentary by female authors through the years. I was a bit disappointed to see Shirley Jackson not included, but maybe she's too new to be considered classic. Was a bit surprised to see Frankenstein in this collection - I feel like maybe there could have been another selection, as Frankenstein seems to be in EVERY collection lately.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

That took quite a while to get through! I did enjoy Frankenstein, having never read it before. The stories by Christie, Glasgow, and Wharton stood out. The selected poetry didn't do much for me, but the Teasdale read felt timely. Overall, a nice selection of work by women writers.

[Valentina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good colection of interesting works of all types from important female writers in history. I wish we studied more of these ladies in school.

[Saanchi Agarwal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of ghost stories.

[Kate McCrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful volume, filled with classics from some of our favorite women writers. Any avid classic collector will want to add this to their shelves.

[mads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this collection

[Joshua Friesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good selection.

[Alexandra Donovan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am now a Victorian literature hater.