Memoirs of the Author of a Vindication of the Rights of Woman

by William Godwin

Overview

William Godwin is one of the first exponents of utilitarianism and modern minarchist philosophy. His two most famous works are An Enquiry concerning Political Justice and Things as They Are: The Adventures of Caleb Williams. Godwin worked with Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley at the turn of the 19th century to advocate for social progress. In these, his memoirs, he reflects on that work as well as his and Shelley's various other passions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781438508122
Publisher:	Book Jungle
Publication date:	12/31/2008
Pages:	76
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.16(d)

About the Author

Pamela Clemit is Reader in English Studies at the University of Durham. She is the author of The Godwinian Novel (Clarendon Press, 1993), and has edited numerous editions of Godwin’s and Mary Shelley’s literary writings.

Gina Luria Walker is Chair of the Department of Social Sciences at The New School. She has written widely on women and Romantic literature.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction by Sam Sloan 4

CHAP. I. 1759-1775. 7 CHAP. II 1775-1783. 14 CHAP. III. 1783-1785. 18 CHAP. IV. 1785-1787. 24 CHAP. V. 1787-1790. 29 CHAP. VI. 1790-1792. 32 CHAP. VII. 1792-1795 43 CHAP. VIII. 1795, 1796. 52 CHAP. IX. 1796, 1797. 61 CHAP. X. 70

Editorial Reviews

“I cannot easily prevail on myself to doubt, that the more fully we are presented with the picture and story of such persons as the subject of the following narrative, the more generally shall we feel in ourselves an attachment to their fate and a sympathy in their excellencies. There are not many individuals with whose character the public welfare and improvement are more intimately connected than the author of a Vindication of the Rights of Woman.”

From the Publisher

"Pamela Clemit is a renowned Godwin scholar, and she and co-editor Gina Luria Walker significantly redirect attention from the Memoirs as a perversely prejudicial document in the reception of Wollstonecraft's work to a central document within Godwin's oeuvre and a key text for redefining notions of Romantic historiography."

Wil Verhoeven University of Groningen

"William Godwin's 1798 Memoirs of the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman reflects Wollstonecraft's and Godwin's agendas for societal progress as well as the story of an era. Unfortunately, Godwin's candid narrative of Wollstonecraft's passions—for men, for women's rights, for political reform—fueled attacks by enemies and embarrassment in friends. As a result, this significant historical and literary work has been relatively unavailable since its initial publication. Clemit's and Walker's excellent introduction, full annotations and appendices of contextual materials detail the book's history, and situate it in terms of literature, feminism, politics, biography and publishing history, making this new edition of Memoirs especially welcome."

Betty T. Bennett