Women's Classic Literature Enthusiasts discussion

Nominations for July are now open. July is a theme month. Please nominate a book written by a woman that was published before the 1800s. Please indicate if you are able to lead if your book is chosen. Nominations close on 19 May.

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft. I might be able to lead.

Just a query here- is this meant to be before 1800 or before 1900?

I would like to nominate Letters of a Peruvian Woman by Françoise de Graffigny, first published in 1747. I can lead.

Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "Just a query here- is this meant to be before 1800 or before 1900?"

It was meant to be before 1800, but it is hard to find books that fit that category!

I nominate The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon, first published in 1002. I can lead.

Viv wrote: "I would like to nominate Letters of a Peruvian Woman by Françoise de Graffigny, first published in 1747. I can lead."

I studied this one in middle school years ago - I don't remember anything apart from the fact that I liked it!

I’m really glad this category came up. I did a search on best 18th century books and it’s depressing how few women are on the lists. I know it was much harder for women to get published then and so few have been celebrated or remembered since. I know very little about books published before 1800 so have no nominations to offer (other than perhaps something, anything, by Fanny Burney or Ann Radcliffe) but would be very interested in joining in.

Vicky wrote: "I’m really glad this category came up. I did a search on best 18th century books and it’s depressing how few women are on the lists. I know it was much harder for women to get published then and so..."

You can nominate a book by Burney or Radcliffe, if you wish. I am surprised that no one has, so far.

The Castle of Wolfenbach: A German Story by Eliza Parsons (1793)

I can lead.

I nominate The Book of the City of Ladies by Christine de Pizan (1405). I can lead.

A reminder that you have until May 19th to nominate a book for July's poll.

Poll is open.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

There is a tie on July's poll! Voting ends tomorrow.

Hi all
July's poll ended in a tie. We have decided on having a run-off poll between The Castle of Wolfenbach: A German Story and Letters from a Peruvian Woman. This poll will end on Wednesday 6 June.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

Vicky wrote: "I’m really glad this category came up. I did a search on best 18th century books and it’s depressing how few women are on the lists. I know it was much harder for women to get published then and so..."

For those interested in more authors publishing before 1800, I came across Regina Maria Roche, Margaret Cavendish, Georgiana Cavendish; Elizabeth Inchbald; Phillis Wheatley and Eleanor Sleath;

Besides the books Cam and Viv nominated , there are more pre-1800 works by female authors named in Prof. Lance Donaldson-Evans' book, One Hundred Great French Books: From the Middle Ages to the Present:
Hélisenne de Crenne (Marguerite Brier?), Les Angoysses douloureuses qui precedent d'amours (1558);
Marguerite de Navarre, L'Heptaméron (1559);
Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Marquise de Sévigné, The Letters of Madame de Sévigné; et
Marie-Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne de La Fayette, La Princesse de Cléves (1678).
All are available in translations into English.

And the July group read will be The Castle of Wolfenbach: A German Story