Dr. Johnson's Women

by NormaClarke (Author)

• New

  Illustrated
  2001

  $275.05

  I dined yesterday at Mrs Garrick's with Mrs Carter, Miss Hannah More and Miss Fanny Burney. Three such women are not to found; I know not where I could find a fourth, except Mrs Lennox, who is superiour to them all. --Samuel JohnsonDr. Johnson enjoyed the company of clever women. Dr. Johnson's Women explores his relationship with six remarkable and successful female authors, all of whom he knew well: Elizabeth Carter, Hannah More, Charlotte Lennox, Hester Thrale, Fanny Burney and Elizabeth Montagu. It is also an account of the characters and achievements of these women. It is often assumed that women writers in the eighteenth century suffered the same restrictions and obstacles that confronted their Victorian successors. Norma Clarke shows that this was by no means the case. Highlighting the opportunities available to women with talent in the eighteenth century, Dr. Johnson's Women makes clear just how impressive and varied their achievements were.

• Used

  Paperback
  2005

  $3.40

  Dr Johnson's friendships with the leading women writers of the day was an important feature of his life and theirs. He was willing to treat women as intellectual equals and to promote their careers: something ignored by his main biographer, James Boswell. Dr Johnson's Women investigates the lives and writings of six leading female authors Johnson knew well: Elizabeth Carter, Charlotte Lennox, Elizabeth Montagu, Hester Thrale, Hannah More and Fanny Burney. It explores their relationships with Johnson, with each other and with the world of letters. It shows what it was like to be a woman writer in the 'Age of Johnson'. It is often assumed that women writers in the eighteenth century suffered the same restrictions and obstacles that confronted their Victorian successors. Norma Clarke shows that this was by no means the case. Highlighting the opportunities available to women of talent in the eighteenth century, Dr Johnson's Women makes clear just how impressive and varied their achievements were.