Women Writers and Old Age in Great Britain, 1750-1850

by Devoney Looser

Overview

This groundbreaking study explores the later lives and late-life writings of more than two dozen British women authors active during the long eighteenth century.

Drawing on biographical materials, literary texts, and reception histories, Devoney Looser finds that far from fading into moribund old age, female literary greats such as Anna Letitia Barbauld, Frances Burney, Maria Edgeworth, Catharine Macaulay, Hester Lynch Piozzi, and Jane Porter toiled for decades after they achieved acclaim—despite seemingly concerted attempts by literary gatekeepers to marginalize their later contributions.

Though these remarkable women wrote and published well into old age, Looser sees in their late careers the necessity of choosing among several different paths. These included receding into the background as authors of “classics,” adapting to grandmotherly standards of behavior, attempting to reshape masculinized conceptions of aged wisdom, or trying to create entirely new categories for older women writers. In assessing how these writers affected and were affected by the culture in which they lived, and in examining their varied reactions to the prospect of aging, Looser constructs careful portraits of each of her subjects and explains why many turned toward retrospection in their later works.

In illuminating the powerful and often poorly recognized legacy of the British women writers who spurred a marketplace revolution in their earlier years only to find unanticipated barriers to acceptance in later life, Looser opens up new scholarly territory in the burgeoning field of feminist age studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801887055
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	09/08/2008
Pages:	252
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Devoney Looser is a professor of English at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is the editor of Jane Austen and Discourses of Feminism and coeditor (with E. Ann Kaplan) of Generations: Academic Feminists in Dialogue.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction: Women Writers and Old Age, 1750-1850
1. Past the Period of Choosing to Write a "Love-tale"? Frances Burney's and Maria Edgeworth's Late Fiction
2. Catharine Macaulay's Waning Laurels
3. What Is Old in Jane Austen?
4. Hester Lynch Piozzi, Antiquity of Bath
5. "One generation passeth away, and another cometh": Anna Letitia Barbauld's Late Literary Work
6. Jane Porter and the Old Woman Writer's Quest for Financial Independence
Conclusion: "Old women now-a-days are not much thought of; out of sight out of mind with them, now-a-days"
Notes
Bibliography
Index

What People are Saying About This

Susan S. Lanser

Devoney Looser's new study shows us that there's nothing new about disdain for older women. As she illuminates the personal challenges faced by older women writers during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Looser also brings to light a number of fascinating writings produced by her subjects in their late years... This inquiry asks us to rethink literary history in general and women's literary history in particular.

From the Publisher

Devoney Looser's new study shows us that there's nothing new about disdain for older women. As she illuminates the personal challenges faced by older women writers during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Looser also brings to light a number of fascinating writings produced by her subjects in their late years . . . This inquiry asks us to rethink literary history in general and women's literary history in particular.
—Susan S. Lanser, Brandeis University

Editorial Reviews

Compelling and interesting . . . Like a latter-day Isaac D'Israeli, Looser explores many byways of 18th- and early-19th century authorship and publication. Accordingly, specialists in those periods will find here a trove of useful, thought-provoking historical anecdote.
—Choice

So meticulously researched and her prose so pleasantly lucid and unassuming . . . Looser crafts a convincing argument for the reexamination of women writers like Frances Burney, Maria Edgeworth, Jane Porter, and Anna Letitia Barbauld, paying closer attention to their later lives and works.
—Jeanine M. Casler, Papers on Language and Literature

Engaging and clearly written, Looser’s book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of what it meant to be an elderly female writer in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries while also identifying important considerations of fact and methodology often overlooked without the perspective of age studies.
—Kay Heath, Nineteenth-Century Gender Studies

The book's lively introduction offers plenty of promise. Looser conveys considerable enthusiasm about her subject and the impressive archival research she conducted for Women Writers and Old Age. Throughout the six chapters, Looser maintains a lucid and engaging style that many contemporary scholars might well emulate.
—Marilyn Roberts, Eighteenth-Century Intelligencer

Devoney Looser is one of the best at bringing together biographical evidence, sophisticated theory, and literary sensibility.
—Paula R. Backscheider, Studies in English Literature

Devoney Looser has written an extremely important book that sensitively explores ageism and the literary marketplace just when the Mothers of the Novel were writing their final chapters.
—Laurie Kaplan, JASNA News

Elegant and original study . . . Looser not only offers a fresh perspective on individual reputations but raises intriguing questions about the procession of 'generations' in literary history.
—Elizabeth Eger, Times Literary Supplement

One of the strengths of Women Writers and Old Age is Looser's uncompromising willingness to acknowledge how difficult it was for older women writers to triumph over the cultural forces ranged against them.
—Roxanne Eberle, Partial Answers: Journal of Literature and the History of Ideas

This is a thought-provoking . . . contribution not only to old age and gender studies but also to the literary history of the long 18th century.
—Anne-Julia Zwierlein, Zeitschrift fuer Anglistik und Amerikanistik

Wide-ranging and scrupulous book explores a neglected and fascinating subject.
—Caroline Gonda, Eighteenth-Century Fiction

Although Looser's assumptions may not be shared by every reader, the book is so well informed and ends with such a vast bibliography that everyone stands to learn by it.
—Marialuisa Bignami, Modern Language Review

Women Writers in Old Age, 1750–1850, provides a valuable contribution to the nascent field of study.
—Patricia Murphy, Nineteenth-Century Literature

With Women Writers and Old Age in Great Britain, 1750–1850 . . . Devoney Looser is one of the best at bringing together biographical evidence, sophisticated theory, and literary sensibility.
—Paula R. Backscheider, Studies in English Literature

A groundbreaking study of the late careers of women writers.
—Year's Work in English Studies

A well-written, imaginative, carefully researched, and fascinating study.
—Lisa Vargo, Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature

A pioneering effort in what will undoubtedly prove to be another useful perspective from which to consider literary history.
—Susan Staves, Studies in Romanticism

Groundbreaking in a variety of ways . . . This work is well written, thoroughly (and pretty amazingly) researched, and presents a convincing critical argument not only for its subject, but also for the continuation of studies about the subject.
—Kit Kincade, Eighteenth Century: Current Bibliography

From the Publisher

So meticulously researched and her prose so pleasantly lucid and unassuming . . . Looser crafts a convincing argument for the reexamination of women writers like Frances Burney, Maria Edgeworth, Jane Porter, and Anna Letitia Barbauld, paying closer attention to their later lives and works.

Papers on Language and Literature - Jeanine M. Casler

Although Looser's assumptions may not be shared by every reader, the book is so well informed and ends with such a vast bibliography that everyone stands to learn by it.

Modern Language Review - Marialuisa Bignami

Devoney Looser has written an extremely important book that sensitively explores ageism and the literary marketplace just when the Mothers of the Novel were writing their final chapters.

JASNA News - Laurie Kaplan

A groundbreaking study of the late careers of women writers.

Year's Work in English Studies

Devoney Looser is one of the best at bringing together biographical evidence, sophisticated theory, and literary sensibility.

Studies in English Literature - Paula R. Backscheider

This is a thought-provoking . . . contribution not only to old age and gender studies but also to the literary history of the long 18th century.

Zeitschrift fuer Anglistik und Amerikanistik - Anne-Julia Zwierlein

Wide-ranging and scrupulous book explores a neglected and fascinating subject.

Eighteenth-Century Fiction - Caroline Gonda

The book's lively introduction offers plenty of promise. Looser conveys considerable enthusiasm about her subject and the impressive archival research she conducted for Women Writers and Old Age. Throughout the six chapters, Looser maintains a lucid and engaging style that many contemporary scholars might well emulate.

Eighteenth-Century Intelligencer - Marilyn Roberts

A pioneering effort in what will undoubtedly prove to be another useful perspective from which to consider literary history.

Studies in Romanticism - Susan Staves

One of the strengths of Women Writers and Old Age is Looser's uncompromising willingness to acknowledge how difficult it was for older women writers to triumph over the cultural forces ranged against them.

Partial Answers: Journal of Literature and the History of Ideas - Roxanne Eberle

Compelling and interesting . . . Like a latter-day Isaac D'Israeli, Looser explores many byways of 18th- and early-19th century authorship and publication. Accordingly, specialists in those periods will find here a trove of useful, thought-provoking historical anecdote.

Choice

Groundbreaking in a variety of ways . . . This work is well written, thoroughly (and pretty amazingly) researched, and presents a convincing critical argument not only for its subject, but also for the continuation of studies about the subject.

Eighteenth Century: Current Bibliography - Kit Kincade

Women Writers in Old Age, 1750–1850, provides a valuable contribution to the nascent field of study.

Nineteenth-Century Literature - Patricia Murphy

Elegant and original study . . . Looser not only offers a fresh perspective on individual reputations but raises intriguing questions about the procession of 'generations' in literary history.

Times Literary Supplement - Elizabeth Eger

Engaging and clearly written, Looser’s book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of what it meant to be an elderly female writer in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries while also identifying important considerations of fact and methodology often overlooked without the perspective of age studies.

Nineteenth-Century Gender Studies - Kay Heath

A well-written, imaginative, carefully researched, and fascinating study.

Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature - Lisa Vargo

A pioneering effort in what will undoubtedly prove to be another useful perspective from which to consider literary history.

— Susan Staves

Studies in Romanticism

A well-written, imaginative, carefully researched, and fascinating study.

— Lisa Vargo

Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature

Women Writers in Old Age, 1750–1850, provides a valuable contribution to the nascent field of study.

— Patricia Murphy

Nineteenth-Century Literature

Although Looser's assumptions may not be shared by every reader, the book is so well informed and ends with such a vast bibliography that everyone stands to learn by it.

— Marialuisa Bignami

Modern Language Review

Wide-ranging and scrupulous book explores a neglected and fascinating subject.

— Caroline Gonda

Eighteenth-Century Fiction

This is a thought-provoking... contribution not only to old age and gender studies but also to the literary history of the long 18th century.

— Anne-Julia Zwierlein

Zeitschrift fuer Anglistik und Amerikanistik

One of the strengths of Women Writers and Old Age is Looser's uncompromising willingness to acknowledge how difficult it was for older women writers to triumph over the cultural forces ranged against them.

— Roxanne Eberle

Partial Answers: Journal of Literature and the History of Ideas

Elegant and original study... Looser not only offers a fresh perspective on individual reputations but raises intriguing questions about the procession of 'generations' in literary history.

— Elizabeth Eger

Times Literary Supplement

Devoney Looser has written an extremely important book that sensitively explores ageism and the literary marketplace just when the Mothers of the Novel were writing their final chapters.

— Laurie Kaplan

JASNA News

With Women Writers and Old Age in Great Britain, 1750–1850... Devoney Looser is one of the best at bringing together biographical evidence, sophisticated theory, and literary sensibility.

— Paula R. Backscheider

Studies in English Literature

The book's lively introduction offers plenty of promise. Looser conveys considerable enthusiasm about her subject and the impressive archival research she conducted for Women Writers and Old Age. Throughout the six chapters, Looser maintains a lucid and engaging style that many contemporary scholars might well emulate.

— Marilyn Roberts

Eighteenth-Century Intelligencer

Engaging and clearly written, Looser’s book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of what it meant to be an elderly female writer in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries while also identifying important considerations of fact and methodology often overlooked without the perspective of age studies.

— Kay Heath

Nineteenth-Century Gender Studies