Women of Words: A Personal Introduction to Thirty-Five Important Writers [Hardcover]

Janet Bukovinsky Teacher (Editor), Jenny Powell (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1996

Against long odds, the thirty-five women featured in this anthology took charge of their creative destinies and created powerful, enduring works that captured the world's attention. Together they represent the best of women's literature in English from the last two centuries. Through biographies and original portraits, Women of Words reveals each writer as an author and as a woman. The lives of these writers are fascinating, easily as rich and eventful as the lives of the characters they created. Each writer also is represented by telling selections from her finest works. Here, Mary Wollstonecraft challenges the politics of her contemporaries; Doris Lessing probes the difficulties faced by working women; and Toni Morrison creates a memorable character with a unique view of what is most important in life.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

With a brief biographical vignette, Bukovinsky introduces each of the 35 writers included in this compilation of literary gems by women. The selections are tantalizing morsels drawn from each writer's entire output. Among the excerpts are a few surprises, but, primarily, such eminent works as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the short stories of Flannery O'Connor, and Edith Sitwell's poetry predominate. A selection from the novel Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys embodies what Bukovinsky so aptly describes as the "shabby souled women" who populate the writer's emotionally chilling novels. And lending a graceful embellishment to this respectable addition to women's studies collections--one that should help acquaint readers with a wide range of writers--are Jenny Powell's lyrical portrait illustrations. Alice Joyce --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Thirty-five important writers are covered in an excellent anthology which blends biographies with literary reviews. This blend of critical review of authors' works and survey of womens' lives makes for an intriguing portrait of each significant female writer. -- Midwest Book Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Courage Books (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156138769X
• ISBN-13: 978-1561387694
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,131 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exciting biographies & original portraits, May 2, 1999

By 

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This review is from: Women of Words: A Personal Introduction to Thirty-Five Important Writers (Hardcover)

These thirty-five authors are unique writers and women. Short bios are accompanied with selections from their best-known works. Great way to "taste" author's style. Marvelous original portraits of each add greatly to beauty of the book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars well conceived; well executed, February 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Women of Words: A Personal Introduction to Thirty-Five Important Writers (Hardcover)

A beautiful coffee table book that is worthy of being read by anyone who likes literature and literary figures, and especially by those who admire women of rare talent who have succeeded, often against high odds, in getting women's words heeded. It is interesting to note the birth/death dates under each of the 35 names. In the 1700s and throughout most of the 1800s they died tragically young by today's standards. Only in this century has one lived into her 90s. Not designed to be comprehensive; the choices are admirable.