Hysterical Fictions : The 'Woman's Novel' in the Twentieth Century

The woman's novel is a term used to describe fiction which, while immensely popular among educated women readers, sits uneasily between high and low culture. Clare Hanson argues that this hybrid status reflects the ambivalent position of its authors and readers, as educated women caught between identification with the male-gendered intellectual culture and a counter-experience of female embodiment. Through six case studies, the representation of a "mind/body problem" is explored in the fiction of Rosamond Lehmann, Elizabeth Bowen, Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret Drabble, A.S. Byatt and Anita Brookner.

the Woman's Novel Is A Genre Which Sits Uneasily Between High And Low Culture. In This Book It Is Argued That This Hybrid Status Reflects The Ambivalent Position Of Its Authors And Readers, As Educated Women Caught Between Identification With A Male-gendered Intellectual Culture And A Counter-experience Of Female Embodiment. Through Six Case Studies, The Representation Of A Mind/body Problem Is Explored In The Fiction Of Rosamond Lehmann, Elizabeth Bowen, Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret Drabble, A.s. Byatt, And Anita Brookner.

booknews

the Novels Hanson (english, Loughborough U.) Has In Mind Are Immensely Popular Among Educated Women Readers, Yet Sit Uneasily Between High And Low Culture. She Argues That Their Hybrid Status Reflects The Ambivalent Position Of Their Authors And Readers As Educated Women Caught Between Identifying With A Male-gendered Intellectual Culture And A Counter-experience Of Culturally Derogated Female Embodiment. She Explains That They Can Even Be Considered Feminist Because They Revalue Feminine Identity. Annotation C. Book News, Inc., Portland, Or (booknews.com)

The Woman's Novel Is A Term Used To Describe Fiction Which, While Immensely Popular Among Educated Women Readers, Sits Uneasily Between High And Low Culture. Clare Hanson Argues That This Hybrid Status Reflects The Ambivalent Position Of Its Authors And Readers As Educated Women Caught Between Identification With A Male-gendered Intellectual Culture And A Counter-experience Of Culturally Derogated Female Embodiment. Using A Variety Of Philosophical Perspectives, She Analyses The Gendering Of Thought And Culture And The Complex Ways In Which The Female Body Is Coded As 'outside' Or As Preceding Culture.--book Jacket. Rosamond Lehmann And The Woman In Love -- Elizabeth Bowen : 'becoming-woman' -- Elizabeth Talyor's Speaking Bodies -- Margaret Drabble : Natality, Labour, Work And Action -- A.s. Byatt's Gardens -- Anita Brookner : The Principle Of Hope. Clare Hanson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 182-187) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction....Pages 1-25 Rosamond Lehmann and the Woman in Love....Pages 26-47 Elizabeth Bowen: ‘Becoming-Woman’....Pages 48-73 Elizabeth Taylor’s Speaking Bodies....Pages 74-96 Margaret Drabble: Natality, Labour, Work and Action....Pages 97-120 A. S. Byatt’s Gardens....Pages 121-146 Anita Brookner: The Principle of Hope....Pages 147-172 Back Matter....Pages 172-191 Rosamond Lehmann's first novel, Dusty Answer (1927) has claims to be one of the earliest examples of a genre, the woman's university novel.