Exploring the Lives of Women, 1558-1837' is an engaging and lively
collection of original, thought-provoking essays. Its route from Lady
Jane Grey's nine-day reign to Queen Victoria's accession provides ample
opportunities to examine complex interactions between gender, rank, and
power. Yet the book's scope extends far beyond queens: its female cast
includes servants, aristocrats, literary women, opera singers,
actresses, fallen women, athletes and mine workers.
The collection explores themes relating to female power and physical
strength; infertility, motherhood, sexuality and exploitation;
creativity and celebrity; marriage and female friendship. It draws upon
a wide range of primary materials to explore diverse representations of
women: illuminating accounts of real women's lives appear alongside
fictional portrayals and ideological constructions of femininity. In
exploring women's negotiations with patriarchal control, this book
demonstrates how the lived experience of women did not always correspond
to prescribed social and gendered norms, revealing the rich complexity
of their lives.
This volume has been published to commemorate the 30th anniversary of
the Women's Studies Group 1558-1837. The group was formed to promote
research into any aspect of women's lives as experienced or depicted
within this period. The depth, range and creativity of the essays in
this book reflect the myriad interests of its members.
