American Women Regionalists 1850-1910: A Norton Anthology

by Judith Fetterley, Marjorie Pryse (Editor)

Sixty-four stories and sketches by fourteen writers are brought together in this groundbreaking anthology to trace a tradition of women's writing in America. Crossing boundaries of region and ethnicity, these works are by writers popular in their time but neglected in the twentieth century. In American Women Regionalists readers will find writing that charts the imagination and talent of some of our most compelling voices.

Included in the collection are works by New Englanders Mary E. Wilkins Freeman and Sarah Orne Jewett, Tennessean Mary Noailles Murfree, New Orleans writers Kate Chopin and Alice Dunbar-Nelson, Native American Zitkala-Sa, and Western writers Sui Sin Far and Mary Austin, among others. Together these writers enable readers to reconstruct a women's tradition of sketches and short stories from Harriet Beecher Stowe to Willa Cather.

To help contextualize the stories and sketches, Pryse and Fetterley provide a general introduction, biographical/critical headnotes, and bibliographies for further reading.


Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896): Uncle Lot; Pearl of Orr's island
Alice Cary (1820-1871): Preface to Clovernook; Uncle Christopher's
Rose Terry Cooke (1827-1892): Freedom Wheeler's controversy with Providence; Miss Beulah's bonnet
Celia Thaxter (1835-1894): Among the isles of shoals
Sarah Orne Jewett (1849-1909): Deephaven; White heron
Mary Noialles Murfree (1850-1922): Star in the valley; Over on the t'other mounting
Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1852-1930): On the Walpole Road; Mistaken charity
Grace Elizabeth King (1852-1932): Balcony; Drama of three
Kate Chopin (1851-1904): At the 'Cadian Ball; Madame Celestin's divorce
Alice Dunbar-Nelson (1875-1935): Goodness of Saint Rocque; M'sieu Fortier's violin
Sui Sin Far [Edith Maud Eaton] (1867-1914): Sing song woman; Mrs. Spring fragrance
Zitkala-Sa [Gertrude Simmons Bonnin] (1876-1938): Impressions of an Indian childhood; School days of an Indian girl
Mary Austin (1868-1934): Land of little rain; Basket maker
Willa Cather (1873-1947): Old Mrs. Harris
List of works cited
Chronology of first regional publications

672 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 1995

Reviews

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

an excellent collection of writings by american women. i used this book in college & have returned to it off and on for years. it's a classic, i'll always have it on my nightstand.

[Lindsey Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the stories in this collection are really delightful. I liked the strong presence of a female voice and the opportunities that are often not afforded to female characters at this time.