Writing Women's Lives: An Anthology of Autobiographical Narratives by Twentieth-Century American Women Writers [Paperback]

Susan Cahill (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1994 | ISBN-10: 0060969989 | ISBN-13: 978-0060969981 | Edition: 1st ed

Representing fifty distinguished American women writers, this collection of autobiographical narratives reflects the diverse intersections of race, class, religion, and sexual identity as they have been experienced in every region of the United States over the course of the twentieth century. The selections showcase the common experiences of women writers as children, daughters, wives, lovers, mothers, artists, travelers, and intellectuals; together they form a moving cultural history of the United States form a moving cultural history of the United States from a female perspective. Among the different voices of these accomplished prose stylists, one hears a common note of humor and irreverence, and the ring of conviction and confidence that comes from a well-forged identity.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cahill, the editor of numerous feminist anthologies, has assembled a distinctive collection of 50 autobiographical narratives that span the 20th century. At the close of her powerful "Why Southern Women Leave Home," Shirley Abbott captures the spirit of this anthology, writing that "history weighs on us and refuses to be forgotten by us, and that the worst poverty women--or men--can suffer is to be bereft of their past." Readers will find an abundance of riches in this volume, including the familiar voices of Edith Wharton, Mary McCarthy, Louise Bogan and Annie Dillard, as well as newer names such as Sandra Cisneros, Dorothy Allison and Lorene Cary. Throughout, these essays span the spectrum of women's experiences and the challenges facing them, from racial and sexual discrimination, teen pregnancy and poverty, to the pleasures of reading, the love of other women and the burdens and blessings of ethnic heritage. Mary Crow Dog writes of her battle against the racism she faces as a Native American; Kate Millett, diagnosed as manic-depressive, fights the mental health establishment for her sanity; and Madeleine L'Engle struggles with her faith as her husband dies of cancer. Guided by William Dean Howell's observation that autobiography is "the most democratic province in the republic of letters," Cahill has gathered a diverse and inspiring chorus of American women's voice.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Edited by a Fordham University professor whose numerous anthologies on women and writing include Growing Up Female (NAL/Dutton, 1993), this captivating anthology presents poignant excerpts from the autobiographies and memoirs of 50 20th-century American women writers widely ranging in age, race, ethnicity, and class. Beginning with Jane Addams and ending with Natalie Kusz, it includes such writers as Edith Wharton, Ellen Glasgow, Lillian Hellman, Tillie Olsen, Denise Levertov, and Maya Angelou; the excerpts explore life experiences among those whose writing, memories, life, and identity are interconnected. Readers will laugh at the witty scenarios from Nikki Giovanni's Sacred Cows...and Other Edibles (LJ 2/ 15/88) about the writing profession and raising a teenage son and cringe at the vivid reminders of Japanese American internment in Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston's Farewell to Manzanar (LJ 11/1/73) and of the occupation of Wounded Knee in Mary Crow Dog's Lakota Woman (LJ 2/15/90). Highly recommended for all collections.
Jeris Cassel, Rutgers Univ. Libs., New Brunswick, N.J.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Perennial; 1st ed edition (April 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060969989
• ISBN-13: 978-0060969981
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,299,870 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Collection, January 2, 2001

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Carol Behrens (Long Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writing Women's Lives: An Anthology of Autobiographical Narratives by Twentieth-Century American Women Writers (Paperback)

Cahill presents in chronological order writings from a disparate group of fifty women authors. She provides a brief and informative introduction to each writer with a biographical sketch that includes the author's motivation and history including family, education, career and works published.

Whether or not you recognize the authors' names or publications, you will enjoy reading about their lives. You will identify with some of their experiences and you will be amazed to discover their secrets and truths.

The excerpts of autobiographies are as diverse as the authors themselves. They give insight into these women's lives and personal experiences revealing them to be fascinatingly unique and at the same time ordinary. Their stories are enticing, humorous, poignant, informative, and genuine. They form an excellent illustration of the modern feminine experience. This book is outstanding.