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Cover of New Woman Fiction, 1881–1899, Part I

New Woman Fiction, 1881–1899, Part I

Edited by Carolyn W. de la L. Oulton

  • Published: 1 Jun 2010
  • DOI: 10.4324/9781851966417
  • Set ISBN: 9781851966417

Set Contents

Mona Caird, The Wing of Azrael (1889)


In 1888, Mona Caird was probably the most famous feminist in Britain. Her notoriety came from her publication of an article entitled ‘Marriage’ in the Westminster Review in August 1888. In response to her assertion that ‘the present form of marriage … is a vexatious failure’, the Daily Telegraph posed the question ‘Is Marriage a Failure?’ and the ensuing correspondence was huge; some 27,000 letters were received between 9 August and 29 September from men and women of all classes and occupations. The anonymized signatures indicate the range of opinions expressed: ‘One Who Has Suffered’; ‘A Contented Young Spinster’; ‘Married and Contented’; ‘A Matrimonial Failure’; ‘A Happy Husband and Father’. Although few of the letter-writers agreed to the full extent with Caird’s radical opinions, many expressed unhappiness with their married lives and it is significant that so many people considered marriage to be in question at all.

Volume Contents

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    Front Matter
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    Introduction By Alexandra Warwick
  • The Wing of Azrael (1889)
    • Volume I
      • Preface
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        Introduction
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        I
        Mist
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        II
        A Yound Man Called Momus
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        III
        Philip Dendraith
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        IV
        Religious Difficulties
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        V
        Breaking Bounds
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        VI
        The Custodian of the Castle
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        VII
        Murder
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        VIII
        A Symposium
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        IX
        Alternatives
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        X
        Adrienne
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        XI
        The Spider and the Fly
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        XII
        A Working Hypothesis
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        XIII
        A Crisis
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        XIV
        Decided
    • Volume II
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        XV
        Betrothed
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        XVI
        Without Mercy
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        XVII
        Adrift
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        XVIII
        An Encounter
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        XIX
        In Vain
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        XX
        A Bad Beginning
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        XXI
        Upton Castle
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        XXII
        Exiled
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        XXIII
        A Select Circle
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        XXIV
        Guide, Philosopher, and Friend
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        XXV
        The West Wing
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        XXVI
        Sibella
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        XXVII
        Conspiracy
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        XXVIII
        'The Human Comedy'
    • Volume III
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        XXIX
        A Dangerous Acquaintance
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        XXX
        A Tough Battle
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        XXXI
        The Shirt of Nessus
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        XXXII
        Daughter of the Endless Night
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        XXXIII
        Dust to Dust
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        XXXIV
        In Grim Earnest
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        XXXV
        A Perilous Project
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        XXXVI
        The Whirlpool of Fate
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        XXXVII
        Last Days
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        XXXVIII
        Darkness
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    Back Matter