Release date is 2022-03-06

We women and our authors -- Gottfried Keller and women -- Paul Heyse and the incommensurable -- The author in a cul-de-sac (Ibsen) -- The high priest of purity (Björnson) -- The women-haters, Tolstoy and Strindberg -- Maupassant and the "fin de siècle" woman -- Barbey D'Aurevilly on the mystery of woman -- How do we stand?

Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)

"We Women and Our Authors" by Laura Marholm is a critical examination of the role women play in literature, written in the late 19th century. This work delves into the evolving consciousness of women and their relationship with authorship, particularly focusing on the influential male writers of the time and their portrayals of women. Marholm explores the themes of female independence, individuality, and self-awareness against the backdrop of the literary landscape shaped by prominent figures. The opening of the book sets the tone for Marholm's exploration of women's changing roles in society through literature. She reflects on a time when women were seen primarily as appendages to men, yet she observes a burgeoning desire among women to assert their individuality. This transformation is attributed to the literary works of contemporary authors, who not only depicted women but also influenced their awakening and desire for independence. Marholm identifies various writers, including Gottfried Keller and Paul Heyse, noting how their portrayals of women prompted a deeper self-understanding and a quest for autonomy among female readers. Throughout the opening portion, it becomes clear that Marholm intends to engage in a comprehensive analysis of literature's impact on gender dynamics in her era. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Originally published: United Kingdom: John Lane The Bodley Head, 1899