mpatshi's review against another edition
It was a good idea this book, and it could've been a great read.
But, the editing was so bad it became a struggle to get through the pages.
So many typos, repeated and too long confusing sentences.
I wanted to learn about these women, instead I got 7 book-reports in one book.
But, the editing was so bad it became a struggle to get through the pages.
So many typos, repeated and too long confusing sentences.
I wanted to learn about these women, instead I got 7 book-reports in one book.
ellie_spinelli's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
3.25
Great topic but SO many editorial/grammar/spelling mistakes
claire60's review against another edition
3.0
Part biography, part literary criticism this is an exploration of the life and career of 7 key women who were writing in the 50's, 60's and 70's. I didn't always agree with the author's assertion that these writers started second wave feminism, nor that they were accidental feminists. I think these writers knew exactly what they wanted to achieve and were determined to have their place as writers in the world and refused to be held back or pigeon-holed because of their gender. It was interesting to find out more about that and the depressingly patronising way that women were treated not that long ago. These women deserve the extra focus shown here, I would also have welcomed more diverse inclusion in terms of sexuality and ethnicity. Nonetheless this is a book that shows how far we have come but also how far we still have to go, sigh.
With thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
With thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
steeno's review against another edition
2.0
Such a frustrating contrast between really interesting subject matter and very rubbish writing and editing. Gah
nocto's review
5.0
This was an excellent and very interesting read. The only writer featured in the book who I've read a lot of before was Margaret Forster, but the book left me wanting to read books by all the others. I read a couple of works by some of the others before but mostly long ago. This opened my eyes as to the circumstances in which these female writers were first publishing in the later 1950s and 1960s and I think I'll read their books in a new light in the future. This book was a little plagued by typos (or more like hurried editing I suspect) in places but that didn't detract from the overall package. Great research and, on the whole, very well written.
mariasmusings's review against another edition
3.0
Rebel Writers: The Accidental Feminists: Shelagh Delaney • Edna O’Brien • Lynne Reid Banks • Charlotte Bingham • Nell Dunn • Virginia Ironside • Margaret Forster
by Celia Brayfield is a biographical study of the early woem writers who challenged the preconceived ideas of the role of women in society.
The book is divided into three sections; An introduction; Part One Seven Writers and Part Two Out Into the World.
The Introduction speaks of how the seven writers, listed in the title, all shared feelings of a need to revolt against their expecetd destiny – to marry, look after their husbands needs, cater for their children etc. Despite coming from different classes, backgrounds, the women all wrote of this wish in their writings, often through humour but also frequnetly with a sense of dispair. Brayfield details their backgrounds and writings(s), along with any connections between the women. And how society of the time reacted to their writings, with their contemporaries begin to acknowledge that there was a lack of female presentation in litertature – and in particular for the female viewpoint.
A fascinating literary criticsm of seven writers, whom we now recogise as havign documented important aspects of women’s lives and how they empowered the women coming after them.
by Celia Brayfield is a biographical study of the early woem writers who challenged the preconceived ideas of the role of women in society.
The book is divided into three sections; An introduction; Part One Seven Writers and Part Two Out Into the World.
The Introduction speaks of how the seven writers, listed in the title, all shared feelings of a need to revolt against their expecetd destiny – to marry, look after their husbands needs, cater for their children etc. Despite coming from different classes, backgrounds, the women all wrote of this wish in their writings, often through humour but also frequnetly with a sense of dispair. Brayfield details their backgrounds and writings(s), along with any connections between the women. And how society of the time reacted to their writings, with their contemporaries begin to acknowledge that there was a lack of female presentation in litertature – and in particular for the female viewpoint.
A fascinating literary criticsm of seven writers, whom we now recogise as havign documented important aspects of women’s lives and how they empowered the women coming after them.
katarata's review
5.0
I enjoyed this book so much. Not only it introduces great feminist authors from Britain, it also gives a little insight into the time period when they were writing their books. I bought it because of the cover and loved it because of the content.
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