From School Library Journal
Grade 10 Up. This book provides biographical and critical articles on almost 300 writers of fiction and nonfiction who espouse a feminist viewpoint. International and preponderantly 20th century in scope, it includes writers of both sexes. Alphabetically arranged entries consist of a critical essay that focuses on the author's relation to the feminist movement and discusses historical/political implications, biographical data, a bibliography of publications, and a list of critical works about the writer. The title, nationality, and genre and subject indexes are especially useful. In addition, there are sources for more information on feminist writers including anthologies and criticism arranged by decade; resources such as libraries, periodicals, and web sites; and a list of additional feminist writers not covered in this volume with short annotations of their work. The scholarly foreword makes fascinating reading, as do the entries (who would have thought of Maud Hart Lovelace in this context?). This sophisticated reference book is recommended for high schools with a strong literature or women's studies collection. It makes a nice complement to Elaine Showalter's Modern American Women Writers (Scribners, 1991).?Mary H. Cole, Polytechnic Preparatory Country Day School, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Although numerous biographical compilations on women writers have been published during recent years, this is the first to focus solely on writers whose works contain feminist themes. The editor indicates that decisions regarding which authors to include were based not only on the feminist content of their writings but also on the availability of English-language editions of their works and the extent to which they are studied. Although the majority of the 293 entrants are American or British, a variety of other nationalities is also represented. Ranging chronologically from Sappho to Beth Henley, the alphabetically arranged entries include well-known leaders of the women's movement (e.g., Germaine Greer and Gloria Steinem), creative writers (e.g., Edna St. Vincent Millay, George Sand), and a diverse selection of nonfiction writers, such as anthropologists, historians, educators, sociologists, and political scientists (e.g., Margaret Mead, Beatrice Webb). A few prominent men who embraced the concept of the equality of women (e.g, Frederick Douglass, John Stuart Mill) are also included.
Following the format of other St. James biographical compilations, each entry begins with a section that notes important facts regarding the individual's life and career. This is followed by a bibliography of her or his writings, a selected secondary bibliography, and a critical essay discussing major works pertaining to feminism. However, in the case of at least one subject (Rachel Carson), the feminist connection is not discernible. Contributed primarily by professors and graduate students at academic institutions, the essays vary in quality and readability. An additional 177 writers are treated in an appendix, which provides a brief paragraph or identifying phrase about each figure. Indexes categorize the writers covered in the main entries by century, genre, major thematic interests (e.g., gender roles, labor studies, suffrage), and nationality. A title index of primary works is also provided. Other useful features include a six-page bibliography of publications on feminist writers and a directory of relevant organizations, periodicals, publishers, and Internet resources.
Obviously, this work is much more comprehensive than the two-volume Biographical Dictionary of British Feminists (New York Univ., 1985^-90). It also covers many women not included in the Feminist Companion to Literature in English [RBB Ja 1 91]. Particularly valuable for its treatment of lesser-known figures, this source is especially appropriate for academic libraries that support women's studies programs.
