A familiar figure in 19th C. novels, but much less is known about her in the 'real world'. This rare study provides a key to the Victorian concept of 'the lady' and what it meant to be, or alas, not to be one, and highlights the problems of female identity and place in society, still not completely solved today. A scholarly, highly readable study presenting little-known information and statistics and a wealth of social-historical details and it is beautifully illustrated.
(Kathie Somerwil Ayrton - bwl 98 Autumn 2020 ) |
