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Rhetorical Theory by Women before 1900

An Anthology

Jane Donawerth

This anthology is the first to feature women's rhetorical theory from the fifth through the nineteenth centuries. Assembling selections on rhetoric, composition, and communication by 24 women around the world, this valuable collection demonstrates an often-overlooked history of rhetoric as well as women's interest in conversation as a model for all discourse. Among the theorists included are Aspasia, Pan Chao, Sei Shonagon, Madeleine de Scudéry, Hannah More, Hallie Quinn Brown, and Mary Augusta Jordan. The book also contains an extensive introduction, explanatory headnotes, and detailed annotations.
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  • Reviews
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Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 384 • Trim: 7 x 10
978-0-7425-1717-2 • Paperback • April 2002 • $73.00 • (£56.00)
Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / Rhetoric
Jane Donawerth is professor of English and affiliate faculty in women's studies at the University of Maryland.
Part 1 Introduction
Part 2 Aspasia (fifth century B.C.E.)
Chapter 3 From Menexenus by Plato (c. 386 B.C.E.)
Chapter 4 From De Inventione by Cicero (c.86 B.C.E.)
Part 5 Pan Chao (c.48-117)
Chapter 6 Lessons for Women (first century)
Part 7 Sei Shonagon (b.965?)
Chapter 8 The Pillow Book (c.1000)
Part 9 Christine de Pizan (c.1364-c.1430)
Chapter 10 from The Book of the Body Politic (14404-1407)
Part 11 Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle (c.1623-1673)
Chapter 12 from The Worlds Olio (1655)
Part 13 Margaret Fell (1614-1702)
Chapter 14 Women's Speaking Justified (1666)
Part 15 Bathsua Makin (1600-c. 1675)
Chapter 16 from An Essay to Revive the Ancient Education of Gentlewomen (1673)
Part 17 Madeleine de Scudéry (1608-1701)
Chapter 18 "On Conversation" from Les Conversations sur Divers Sujets (1680)
Chapter 19 "Conversation on the Manner of Writing Letters" from Conversations Nouvelles sur Divers Sujets (1684)
Part 20 Mary Astell (1666-1731)
Chapter 21 from A Serious Proposal, Part II (1697)
Part 22 Hannah More (1745-1833)
Chapter 23 from "The Bas Bleu, or, Conversation" (1783-1786)
Chapter 24 from Strictures on the Modern System of Female Education (1799)
Part 25 Maria Edgeworth (1768-1849)
Chapter 26 from "An Essay on the Noble Science of Self-Justification" (1795)
Part 27 Lydia Sigourney (1791-1865)
Chapter 28 from Letters to Young Ladies (1833)
Chapter 29 from Letters to My Pupils (1851)
Part 30 Eliza Farrar (1791-1870)
Chapter 31 from The Young Lady's Friend (1836)
Chapter 32 from The Youth's Letter Writer (1840)
Part 33 Hallie Quinn Brown (1849-1949)
Chapter 34 from Bits and Odds (1880?)
Chapter 35 from Elocution and Physical Culture (before 1910?)
Part 36 Genevieve Stebbins (1857-1914?)
Chapter 37 from The Delsarte System of Expression (1885)
Chapter 38 from The Genevieve Stebbins System of Physical Training (1898)
Part 39 Jennie Willing (1834-1916)
Chapter 40 from The Potential Woman (1887)
Part 41 Sara Lockwood (1854-c.1902)
Chapter 42 from Lessons in English (1888)
Part 43 Frances E. Willard (1839-1898)
Chapter 44 from Woman in the Pulpit (1889)
Part 45 Anna Morgan (1851-1936)
Chapter 46 from An Hour with Delsarte (1889)
Part 47 Harriet L. Keeler (1846-1921) and Emma C. Davis (c.1891)
Chapter 48 from Studies in English Composition (1891)
Part 49 Gertrude Buck (1871-1922)
Chapter 50 from The Metaphor (1899)
Chapter 51 from A Course in Expository Writing, (1899) coauthored with Elisabeth Woodbridge
Chapter 52 from A Course in Argumentative Writing (1899)
Chapter 53 "The Present Status of Rhetorical Theory" (1900)
Part 54 Mary Augusta Jordan (1855-1941)
Chapter 55 From Correct Writing and Speaking (1904)
Part 56 Bibliography
This collection provides extensive primary text for the study of women's rhetorical theory, as well as extensive introductory considerations of the historiographical issues involved in writing a history of women's rhetorical theory. This makes the book attractive for classes in the history of rhetoric and rhetorical theory, especially those classes that regard the study of gender to be an essential part of the study of rhetoric, and vice versa.
— Mari Lee Mifsud, University of Richmond


This rich and valuable reference volume gathers the work of women theorists from around the world. Recommended as an important source for the disciplines of English and political science, as well as for communication, speech, and collections supporting women's studies.
— Choice Reviews


Many readers will appreciate Donawerth's extensive biographical information, annotation, and citations of secondary sources. . . . Readers will find her meticulous footnotes very helpful.
— Rhetoric Society Quarterly


Well conceived, selected, and presented, these cross-cultural specimens of early women's rhetorical theory demand attention. Collectively, these texts—including early works on Chinese women's language, classical rhetorical theory, humanist thinking, and philosophies of women's writing and speaking education—compel us to rethink our approaches to women and rhetoric. This anthology will help students and teachers alike in their efforts to understand and integrate women's thought and practices into the history of rhetoric.
— Catherine Hobbs, University of Oklahoma, editor of Nineteenth-Century Women Learn to Write


Rhetorical Theory by Women before 1900

An Anthology

Cover Image
Paperback
Summary
Summary
  • This anthology is the first to feature women's rhetorical theory from the fifth through the nineteenth centuries. Assembling selections on rhetoric, composition, and communication by 24 women around the world, this valuable collection demonstrates an often-overlooked history of rhetoric as well as women's interest in conversation as a model for all discourse. Among the theorists included are Aspasia, Pan Chao, Sei Shonagon, Madeleine de Scudéry, Hannah More, Hallie Quinn Brown, and Mary Augusta Jordan. The book also contains an extensive introduction, explanatory headnotes, and detailed annotations.
Details
Details
  • Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
    Pages: 384 • Trim: 7 x 10
    978-0-7425-1717-2 • Paperback • April 2002 • $73.00 • (£56.00)
    Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / Rhetoric
Author
Author
  • Jane Donawerth is professor of English and affiliate faculty in women's studies at the University of Maryland.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Part 1 Introduction
    Part 2 Aspasia (fifth century B.C.E.)
    Chapter 3 From Menexenus by Plato (c. 386 B.C.E.)
    Chapter 4 From De Inventione by Cicero (c.86 B.C.E.)
    Part 5 Pan Chao (c.48-117)
    Chapter 6 Lessons for Women (first century)
    Part 7 Sei Shonagon (b.965?)
    Chapter 8 The Pillow Book (c.1000)
    Part 9 Christine de Pizan (c.1364-c.1430)
    Chapter 10 from The Book of the Body Politic (14404-1407)
    Part 11 Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle (c.1623-1673)
    Chapter 12 from The Worlds Olio (1655)
    Part 13 Margaret Fell (1614-1702)
    Chapter 14 Women's Speaking Justified (1666)
    Part 15 Bathsua Makin (1600-c. 1675)
    Chapter 16 from An Essay to Revive the Ancient Education of Gentlewomen (1673)
    Part 17 Madeleine de Scudéry (1608-1701)
    Chapter 18 "On Conversation" from Les Conversations sur Divers Sujets (1680)
    Chapter 19 "Conversation on the Manner of Writing Letters" from Conversations Nouvelles sur Divers Sujets (1684)
    Part 20 Mary Astell (1666-1731)
    Chapter 21 from A Serious Proposal, Part II (1697)
    Part 22 Hannah More (1745-1833)
    Chapter 23 from "The Bas Bleu, or, Conversation" (1783-1786)
    Chapter 24 from Strictures on the Modern System of Female Education (1799)
    Part 25 Maria Edgeworth (1768-1849)
    Chapter 26 from "An Essay on the Noble Science of Self-Justification" (1795)
    Part 27 Lydia Sigourney (1791-1865)
    Chapter 28 from Letters to Young Ladies (1833)
    Chapter 29 from Letters to My Pupils (1851)
    Part 30 Eliza Farrar (1791-1870)
    Chapter 31 from The Young Lady's Friend (1836)
    Chapter 32 from The Youth's Letter Writer (1840)
    Part 33 Hallie Quinn Brown (1849-1949)
    Chapter 34 from Bits and Odds (1880?)
    Chapter 35 from Elocution and Physical Culture (before 1910?)
    Part 36 Genevieve Stebbins (1857-1914?)
    Chapter 37 from The Delsarte System of Expression (1885)
    Chapter 38 from The Genevieve Stebbins System of Physical Training (1898)
    Part 39 Jennie Willing (1834-1916)
    Chapter 40 from The Potential Woman (1887)
    Part 41 Sara Lockwood (1854-c.1902)
    Chapter 42 from Lessons in English (1888)
    Part 43 Frances E. Willard (1839-1898)
    Chapter 44 from Woman in the Pulpit (1889)
    Part 45 Anna Morgan (1851-1936)
    Chapter 46 from An Hour with Delsarte (1889)
    Part 47 Harriet L. Keeler (1846-1921) and Emma C. Davis (c.1891)
    Chapter 48 from Studies in English Composition (1891)
    Part 49 Gertrude Buck (1871-1922)
    Chapter 50 from The Metaphor (1899)
    Chapter 51 from A Course in Expository Writing, (1899) coauthored with Elisabeth Woodbridge
    Chapter 52 from A Course in Argumentative Writing (1899)
    Chapter 53 "The Present Status of Rhetorical Theory" (1900)
    Part 54 Mary Augusta Jordan (1855-1941)
    Chapter 55 From Correct Writing and Speaking (1904)
    Part 56 Bibliography
Reviews
Reviews
  • This collection provides extensive primary text for the study of women's rhetorical theory, as well as extensive introductory considerations of the historiographical issues involved in writing a history of women's rhetorical theory. This makes the book attractive for classes in the history of rhetoric and rhetorical theory, especially those classes that regard the study of gender to be an essential part of the study of rhetoric, and vice versa.
    — Mari Lee Mifsud, University of Richmond


    This rich and valuable reference volume gathers the work of women theorists from around the world. Recommended as an important source for the disciplines of English and political science, as well as for communication, speech, and collections supporting women's studies.
    — Choice Reviews


    Many readers will appreciate Donawerth's extensive biographical information, annotation, and citations of secondary sources. . . . Readers will find her meticulous footnotes very helpful.
    — Rhetoric Society Quarterly


    Well conceived, selected, and presented, these cross-cultural specimens of early women's rhetorical theory demand attention. Collectively, these texts—including early works on Chinese women's language, classical rhetorical theory, humanist thinking, and philosophies of women's writing and speaking education—compel us to rethink our approaches to women and rhetoric. This anthology will help students and teachers alike in their efforts to understand and integrate women's thought and practices into the history of rhetoric.
    — Catherine Hobbs, University of Oklahoma, editor of Nineteenth-Century Women Learn to Write


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