Rational Passions: Women and Scholarship in Britain, 1702-1870 »

This anthology of primarily non-fiction works by British women (1702-1870) introduces readers to a range of lesser-known texts and examines their authors? scholarly ambitions and often groundbreaking achievements. 

Despite their lack of civil and political rights and in the absence of formal academic training, each of the writers profiled in this unique collection was anxious to establish herself as a serious contributor to what were regarded as male intellectual traditions. Students of women's history will be reacquainted with Harriet Martineau and Mary Hays' political writings while being introduced for the first time to Priscilla Wakefield, Jane Marcet, Ada Byron and Mary Somerville's contributions to science and mathematics. Among others, Mary Shelley and Anna Jameson will intrigue readers with their innovative offerings to the expanding print culture.  

A historical introduction and chronology provide the context for the primary sources which are arranged thematically. Biographical profiles and short commentaries are provided for each author.  

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chronology

Part 1: History and Politics

1. Elizabeth Elstob (1683-1756)

The Rudiments of Grammar for the English-Saxon Tongue, First given in English with an Apology for the Study of Northern Antiquities (1715)

2. Priscilla Wakefield (1750-1832)

Reflections on the Present Condition of the Female Sex with Suggestions for its Improvement (1798)

3. Anna Lætitia Barbauld (1743-1825)

An Address to the Opposers of the Repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts (1790)

4. Catharine Macaulay Graham (1731-1791)

Observations on the Reflections of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke on the Revolution in France, In a Letter to the Right Hon. The Earl of Stanhope (1790)

The History of England From the Accession of James I to the Elevation of the House of Hanover (1768)

5. Lucy Aikin (1781-1864)

"The Trial and Execution of Mary Queen of Scots," Memoirs of the Court of Elizabeth (1818)

6. Agnes Strickland (1796-1874)

"Elizabeth," Lives of the Queens of England From the Norman Conquest (1877)

7. Mary Hays (1759-1843)

"Catharine Macaulay Graham," Female Biography (1803)

8. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797-1851)

"Madame de Staël," Lives of the Most Eminent Literary and Scientific Men of France (1838-1839)

9. Harriet Martineau (1802-1876)

"Preface," Illustrations of Political Economy (1832)

Part 2: Education

10. Hester Chapone (née Mulso) (1727-1801)

"A Matrimonial Creed; addressed by Miss Mulso to Mr. Richardson in consequence ofhis questioning her strictly on what she believed to be the duties of the married state (1750-1751)," The Works of Mrs. Chapone (1807)     

Letters on the Improvement of the Mind. Addressed to a Young Lady (1773)

11. Hester Lynch Piozzi (1740-1821)

Observations and Reflections Made in the Course of a Journey Through France, Italy, and Germany (1789)

British Synonymy; or, An Attempt at Regulating the Choice of Words in Familiar Conversation (1794)

12. Elizabeth Hamilton (1758-1816)

Letters on the Elementary Principles of Education (1801)

13. Catherine Macaulay Graham (1731-1791)

Letters on Education with Observations on Religious and Metaphysical Subjects (1790)

14. Hannah More (1745-1833)

Strictures on the Modern System of Female Education. With a View of the Principles and Conduct Prevalent Among Women of Rank and Fortune (1799)

15. Mary Hays (1759-1843)

"Letter IV," Letters and Essays, Moral, and Miscellaneous (1793)

16. Maria Edgeworth (1767-1849)

Letters for Literary Ladies (1795)

Part 3: Philosophy and Religion

17. Catherine Trotter (1674-1749)

A Vindication of an Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1702) 

18. Elizabeth Carter (1717-1806)

"Introduction," All the Works of Epictetus (1758)

"Chapter XII: Of Contentment," All the Works of Epictetus (1758)

A Series of Letters between Mrs. Elizabeth Carter and Miss Catherine Talbot

The Rambler, Number XLIV (1750)

19. Anna Lætitia Barbauld (1743-1825)

Remarks on Mr. Gilbert Wakefield'sEnquiry into the Expediency and Propriety of Public or Social Worship (1792)

20. Harriet Martineau (1802-1876)

"Preface," The Positive Philosophy of Auguste Comte (1853)

"Chapter 1," The Positive Philosophy of August Comte (1853)

Part 4: Art and Literary Criticism

21. Elizabeth Montagu (1718-1800)

"Introduction," Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespear, Compared with the Greek and French Dramatic Poets. With Some Remarks Upon the Misrepresentation of Mons. De Voltaire (1769)

22. Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797)

Review of Letters on Education, by Catharine Macaulay Graham, Analytical Review (1790)

Review of Observations and Reflections, made in the Course of a Journey through France, Italy and Germany, by Hester Lynch Piozzi, Analytical Review (1789)

23. Anna Lætitia Barbauld (1743-1825)

"Miss Burney," The British Novelists (1810)

24. Mary Cowden Clarke (1809-1898)

The Complete Concordance to Shakespeare (1845; 1881)

25. Anna Jameson (1794-1860)

Sacred and Legendary Art (1848)

Part 5: Science and Mathematics

26. Priscilla Wakefield (1750-1832)

Introduction to Botany (1796)

27. Jane Marcet (1769-1858)

Conversations on Chemistry in which the Elements of that Science are Familiarly Explained and Illustrated by Experiments, in two volumes (1817)

28. Ada (Augusta) Byron (1815-1852)

Notes on Menabrea'sMemoir on Babbage'sCalculating Engines (1843)

29. Mary Fairfax Somerville (1780-1872)

On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences (1834)

Bibliography

Index