History of British Women's Writing, 1970-Present

Linda Anderson, Newcastle University, UK Claire Chambers, University of York, UK Deborah Chambers, Newcastle University, UK Hywel Dix, Bournemouth University, UK Jane Dowson, De Montfort University, UK Mary Eagleton, independent scholar, UK Gabriele Griffin, University of York, UK Clare Hanson, University of Southampton, UK Elizabeth Wanning Harries, Smith College, USA Maroula Joannou, Anglia Ruskin University, UK Jeannette King, University of Aberdeen, UK Gail Low, University of Dundee, UK Rebecca Munford, Cardiff University, UK Emma Parker, University of Leicester, UK Ruvani Ranasinha, King's College London, UK Suzanne Scafe, London South Bank University, UK Susan Watkins, Leeds Beckett University, UK Imelda Whelehan, University of Tasmania, Australia Sue Zlosnik, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

"Since 1970, when feminist literary criticism and history began to appear, women's writing has entered an explosive new period of diversity and creativity. In the ambitious and capacious volume, co-editors Mary Eagleton and Emma Parker bring the history of British women's writing up to the present. In sixteen chapters, contributors review the astonishing range of work over the past five decades, put it in historical context, and explore ways to analyze it by genre, nationality, generation, and technology. The result is an indispensable tool for understanding how women's writing has developed and where its future may take it." Elaine Showalter, Professor Emerita of English, Avalon Foundation Professor of the Humanities, Princeton University, USA "This is the only history and account of British women's writing from 1970 that manages to cover - brilliantly and succinctly in one volume - not only the entire range of literary genres and sub-genres of British women's writing of the period, but also non-literary genres such as digital media and journalism. The volume also addresses with verve and in depth, intellectual, political and institutional contexts that have shaped women's writing in the period. Covering writers from grande dames to contemporary rising stars, theatre to life writing, the essays are consistently accessible, lively, challenging and packed with expertly informed discussion. This book will certainly become the key companion text for anyone studying or interested in women's studies, women's writing, contemporary culture and writing." Patricia Waugh, Professor in the Department of English Studies, University of Warwick, UK

• Series Editors' Preface Acknowledgements Notes on the Contributors Chronology 1970-2014 Introduction; Mary Eagleton and Emma Parker PART I: WOMEN AND LITERARY CULTURE 1. Fiction: From Realism to Postmodernism and Beyond; Clare Hanson 2. Poetry on Page and Stage; Jane Dowson 3. Mrs Worthington's Daughters: Drama; Gabriele Griffin 4. Media Old and New; Deborah Chambers 5. Publishing and Prizes; Gail Low PART II: FEMINISM AND FICTION: EVOLUTION AND DISSENT 6. The Grandes Dames: Writers of Longevity; Maroula Joannou 7. 'The Monstrous Regiment': Literature and the Women's Liberation Movement; Imelda Whelehan 8. Writing the F-Word: Girl Power, Third Wave, and Postfeminism; Rebecca Munford PART III: GENDER AND GENRE 9. The Gothic: Danger, Discontent, and Desire; Sue Zlosnik 10. Changing the Story: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Myth; Elizabeth Wanning Harries 11. Disputing the Past: Historical Fiction; Jeannette King 12. Life Lines: Auto/biography and Memoir; Linda Anderson PART IV: WRITING THE NATION: DIFFERENCE, DIASPORA, DEVOLUTION 13. Writing the Nations: Welsh, Northern Irish, and Scottish Literature; Hywel Dix 14. Unsettling the Centre: Black British Fiction; Suzanne Scafe 15. Redefining Britishness: British Asian Fiction; Ruvani Ranasinha PART V: WRITING NOW 16. Writing Now; Claire Chambers and Susan Watkins Electronic Resources Select Bibliography Index