Woman's Work in English Fiction, from the Restoration to the Mid-Victorian Period

A chronological critical survey examines English women’s contributions to the novel from the Restoration through the mid‑Victorian era, offering chapter-length studies of individual authors, assessments of literary style and thematic preoccupations, and a recovery of neglected figures. Written from a woman's viewpoint, the study compares female authors’ approaches, traces changing social and cultural influences on women’s fiction, and highlights recurring concerns such as domestic life, moral instruction, and narrative voice. Critical judgments combine close reading with contemporary opinions, while the book's structure balances biographical sketches, textual analysis, and a concluding synthesis of women's evolving role in English fiction.