Author Description
Mary Wollstonecraft Is Widely Hailed As The Mother Of Modern Feminism. The Book That Made Her Famous, A Vindication Of The Rights Of Woman, Is A Work Of Worldwide Renown. Yet The Scope Of Her Achievement As A Thinker And Writer Reaches Far Beyond This Text. She Wrote On A Wide Variety Of Topics And In A Range Of Literary Forms, Some Of Which She Created Herself. This Very Short Introduction By Emma Clery Examines The Conditions For Wollstonecraft's Emergence As A Feminist, But Also At Her Status As An Educator, A Political Thinker, And A Romantic. The Author Also Considers The Reception Of Mary Wollstonecraft Over Two Centuries, And Argues That Readers Need To Look At Her Gamut Of Activities Anew In The 21st Century. E.j. Clery Is Professor In The Department Of English Literature At The Uppsala University. Her Books Include Women's Gothic From Clara Reeve To Mary Shelley Among Others-- Provided By Publisher.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the multifaceted intellectual legacy of Mary Wollstonecraft, questioning how her broader contributions as a writer, educator, and political thinker have been overshadowed by her singular association with feminist theory. E. J. Clery, a professor of English literature, utilizes historical context and literary analysis to re-evaluate Wollstonecraft's diverse body of work. The text argues that a contemporary understanding of Wollstonecraft requires moving beyond her most famous treatise to appreciate her full range of activities and literary experimentation.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- An analysis of Wollstonecraft's development as a feminist and political theorist.
- Examination of her work as an educator and a romantic writer.
- A survey of the historical reception of her ideas over the past two centuries.
- Contextualization of her literary forms and stylistic innovations.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide an exhaustive chronological biography of her personal life.
- It does not offer a line-by-line critique of every individual essay or letter she authored.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts recognize this work as a concise and accessible entry point for those seeking to understand the breadth of Wollstonecraft's intellectual career. Readers frequently note that the prose is scholarly yet approachable, making it a useful resource for students and general readers interested in 18th-century political thought.
Page Count:
152
Publication Date:
2025-01-01
ISBN-10:
0192862561
ISBN-13:
9780192862563
Biography
History
Philosophy
Literary Criticism
Feminism