Economic Imperatives for Women's Writing in Early Modern Europe

Economic Imperatives for Women's Writing in Early Modern Europe delves into the early modern history of women's authorship and literary production in Europe taking a material turn. The case studies included in the volume represent women writers from various European countries and comparatively reflect the nuances of their participation in a burgeoning commercial market for authors while profiting as much from patronage. From self-representation as professional writers to literary reception, the challenges of reputation, financial hardships, and relationships with editors and colleagues, the essays in this collection show from different theoretical standpoints and linguistic areas that gender biases played a far less limiting role in women's literary writing than is commonly assumed, while they determined the relationship between moneymaking, self-representation, and publishing strategies

Grijs vernuft in groene jaren: Reflecties op auteurschapsontwikkeling bij vrouwen in vroegmoderne voorwerkteksten

Early modern literary careers are generally perceived as progressive: inadequate young authors gradually develop their literary skills and knowledge while growing old. In this article, we analyse how young authorship and career development of early modern Dutch women writers was represented in front matter in their literary print-publications. We demonstrate that front matter’s praise of young women’s authorship was connected to both male and female flavoured qualities. These qualities turn out to be connected to the ways in which female careers were represented. When young female authorship was mainly legitimated based on intellectual capacities considered typically masculine, the women’s career is perceived as progressive. However: when this legitimation is rather based on qualities considered as typically feminine, such as virtuousness and handiwork skills, the women’s authorship at an early age is sometimes represented as already fully-grown and complete