EXPLORING THE LIVES OF WOMEN 1558-1837

The Women's Studies Group (WSG) was formed 35 years ago to engage with all aspects of women's lives over almost two centuries, and within two years of its foundation it had members in 19 countries worldwide. This lively collection of 14 essays ranges over the whole period and a fascinating variety of topics. The 16th century nine-days' queen Lady Jane Grey was the centre of a circle of Protestant reformers, but as was customary at the time, Michelangelo Florio's dedication of his book to Lady Jane foregrounds her male relatives, evoking her role as an intermediary with influential men such as her father, the Duke of Suffolk. In a discussion of Fertility, Aphrodisiacs and Sexual Pleasure in Early Modern England, Jennifer Evans draws on the anxieties of Samuel Pepys and his wife to support the conclusion that aphrodisiacs at this time were considered to be a remedy, with sexual pleasure associated with conception. Gillian Williamson examines how the 18th century Gentleman's Magazine shifted the meaning of gentlemanliness to a more self-generated model, and how this in turn influenced definitions of femininity. Sarah Oliver writes about female sexual agency in the 18th century novel, covering the rape theme in Richardson's Clarissa and Eliza Haywood's best-selling Love in Excess, and finding in conclusion that Mary Hays's Memoirs of Emma Courtney destabilises the view that a master's sexual abuse of a female servant is acceptable. Brianna E Robertson-Kirkland ventures into the world of opera with the rivalry between prima donnas in the Pathetic and Virtuosic styles. In "Better than the Men" Peter Radford discusses women's speed, strength and endurance in sport, in which there was widespread participation in the 18th century, particularly running, and also their strength as hard labourers in the coal and other industries. 224pp, photos.