Search
New!
Literature and Film
Women's Studies
Dress, Feminism, and New Woman Writing Claire Allen-Johnstone

Dress, Feminism, and New Woman Writing by Claire Allen-Johnstone

"This fascinating book offers an entirely new way of thinking about the New Woman—as she saw the world and the world saw her. Choice of dress was crucial to women's independence at the end of the nineteenth century—and we still have much to learn from the pioneering women writers who understood just what was at stake in sartorial politics. This illuminating and thought-provoking study will change the way you think about New Woman fiction." —Fiona Stafford, Professor of English Language and Literature, University of Oxford

Purchase Options

E-books coming soon.
E-books for short-term access coming soon.
Hardcover Option

Standard Edition

Case-bound Hardcover
Price $ 109.99
About Standard Hardcover Edition
  • construction Book block enclosed inside case.
  • Case bound to hardcover.
  • grading Book floats off spine, pages lie flat.
  • Velvet-matte finish.
  • 60# beige or white paper.
  • For libraries, resellers, individuals.
  • Brand new condition.
Paperback edition not available.
  • Formats Hardcover
  • Hardcover ISBN 9781638571964
  • Pages 286
  • Date TBA
  • Size 6 x 9 in or 229 x 152 mm

Dress, Feminism, and New Woman Writing explores the connections between dress, feminism, and New Woman writing in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with a focus on Britain. It reveals how dress, tied to Victorian gender norms and stereotypes, became key in feminist literary culture. Authors and publishers used dress strategically, from cross-dressing storylines and dress-based critiques to fashionable attire. Concentrating on Olive Schreiner, Sarah Grand, George Egerton, and Grant Allen while bringing in other writers including Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the book offers interdisciplinary sartorial biographies, literary interpretation, and analysis of book covers. Through dress it reexamines topics including gender views and the New Woman character, proposing a new approach to feminist writing. This book is essential for those interested in feminist literature, dress history, and gender studies.

Includes B&W illustrations.

"This fascinating book offers an entirely new way of thinking about the New Woman—as she saw the world and the world saw her. Choice of dress was crucial to women's independence at the end of the nineteenth century—and we still have much to learn from the pioneering women writers who understood just what was at stake in sartorial politics. This illuminating and thought-provoking study will change the way you think about New Woman fiction." —Fiona Stafford, Professor of English Language and Literature, University of Oxford

Claire Allen-Johnstone serves as an Assistant Curator of Furniture, Textiles, and Fashion at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. She holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford. Dr. Allen-Johnstone contributed to and was part of the editorial team for the publication Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion. Her other notable writings include "Scarves: History of a Fashion Object" in Dior Scarves. Fashion Stories and a tribute to May Morris for a Heritage Funded Pascal Theatre Company project.

List of Figures

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1. Olive Schreiner: Disruptive Dress

Chapter 2. Sarah Grand: “How Important Dress Is”

Chapter 3. George Egerton: Sartorial Dualities

Chapter 4. Grant Allen: From the White-Clad Free Lover to the Typist in a “Little Black Dress”

Postscript

Bibliography

Index

  • 2024 Cambria Press

Innovative publisher of the world's top scholars

This website makes limited use of cookies.

View our cookies and privacy policy.