Hamlet's Mother and Other Women

Gender and Culture Series

by Carolyn G. Heilbrun

Carolyn G. Heilbrun's groundbreaking essay "The Character of Hamlet's Mother" was published in 1957 at a time when few critics thought seriously about women's issues in literature. In the years since, Heilbrun has emerged as a feminist leader through her commitment to women's writing and feminist literary critique. Now in a new paperback edition with a new preface by the author, this collection explores feminism in literary studies during the last three decades. By questioning the gender arrangements of society, Heilbrun has helped to transform them. Taken together, these graceful essays demonstrate the consistency and clarity of Heilbrun's vision and her deep respect for the lives of women who write.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Womens, Literary Criticism, Literature, Essays, Books About Books

266 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1990

About the author

Carolyn Heilbrun was an American scholar, feminist critic, and novelist who wrote both influential academic works and popular mystery fiction. She built her career at Columbia University, becoming the first woman to receive tenure in its English department and eventually holding an endowed professorship. Trained in English literature, she focused on British modernism and feminist theory, publishing landmark works such as Writing a Woman's Life, which reshaped conversations about women's authorship and identity. Under the pseudonym Amanda Cross, she wrote a widely read series of Kate Fansler mystery novels that explored gender, power, and academic life with wit and insight. Her dual career allowed her to engage broad audiences while maintaining scholarly rigor, and her work was translated into numerous languages. Heilbrun was an outspoken advocate for women's intellectual and personal autonomy, addressing issues of aging, ambition, and independence. In addition to her scholarship and fiction, she helped shape feminist academic publishing through editorial work. Remembered for her candor, intelligence, and willingness to challenge institutional norms, she remains an important voice in feminist thought and modern American literature, leaving a lasting legacy through both scholarship and popular fiction for generations.

Reviews

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

SOME GOOD SHIT IN HERE

[Mary Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Carolyn G. Heilbrun's groundbreaking essay "The Character of Hamlet's Mother" was published in 1957 at a time when few critics thought seriously about women's issues in literature. In the years since, Heilbrun has emerged as a feminist leader through her commitment to women's writing and feminist literary critique. Now in a new paperback edition with a new preface by the author, this collection explores feminism in literary studies during the last three decades. By questioning the gender arrangements of society, Heilbrun has helped to transform them. Taken together, these graceful essays demonstrate the consistency and clarity of Heilbrun's vision and her deep respect for the lives of women who write.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find her academic writings still so readable and interesting even 40 years after she wrote them. I was a bit bummed by the choice to sort by topic rather than chronologically insofar as it meant all the tasty tasty lit crit was at the beginning and all the extremely-valid, not-as-dated-as-it-could-be-in-terms-of-lacking-intersectionality, but also profoundly difficult, frustrating, and sometimes enraging (all in sympathy!!) writing about how actually what IF feminism in academia was at the end. Her job was SO HARD.

[Avril · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating collection of pieces from 1957 to 1988, illuminating the history of second-wave feminism. Interesting to see the battles won, and those still being fought, and the things taken for granted before feminism became intersectional.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out-of-date in some respects, but otherwise a marvelous read- for writers, profs and anyone interested in biography.

[Shannon]

DNFd at page 23

Previously made it to page 66

[Vickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This work has an interesting shift on analyzing Gertrude.

[Sannie Hald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only read 'Hamlet's Mother'