Customer Reviews

Daughters of Light: Quaker Women Preaching and Prophesying in the Colonies and Abroad, 1700-1775

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Daughters of Light reveals much about 18th Century society and shows how the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) furthered feminism by allowing and encouraging women from all walks of life to preach, although neither the Quakers of the time nor the book focuses mainly on feminism. These women traveled widely and enjoyed freedom of movement that was unheard of for women of other religions. They also had tremendous spiritual authority. The book is illustrated with specimen letters, excerpts from diaries, and pictures.

Despite the narrow formal scope of DOL, its import goes well beyond Quakerism. Larson draws on solid primary sources in tracing peripatetic female Friends as they preached throughout the Atlantic world. She quotes at length from sermons, letters and diaries, though 18th century spiritual prose won't appeal to all. While not feminists in the modern sense, their ability to speak and function as public figures helped create space for women in a more inclusive civil society; this feat was overlooked til now. Lydia M. Child is often cited as the first female public speaker in America. Well, that depends on how one defines "public." Quaker meetings are semi-private, but services are open and many non-Quakers attended, eager to hear inspired religiosity. Far from being a quaint anomaly, the Society of Friends contributed crucially to making the modern world. F. Jennings, "Empire of Fortune" further sets the record straight on Quakers in wartime, showing their central role in peacemaking in 1750s Pennsylvania. Thou hast performed thy work well, Friends.