Yes, the Papal birthday came around again last week, and I was blessed with a lovely selection of books. I felt rather sorry for my benefactors, as normally half the fun of Wish Lists is choosing the book you fancy yourself and then borrowing it afterwards. I can’t imagine many folk share my eclectic tastes, and one nameless family member did wearily hand over a present with the words “this looks really boring”.
Anyway, the roll call of birthday acquisitions is thus:
- Between Women: Friendship, Desire and Marriage in Victorian England – I had already read this one, but it’s one of those texts that’s relevant to just about any piece of research in the nineteenth century. It’s sure to become a classic, and I will no longer have to keep borrowing it from the library.
- Popular Victorian Women Writers - a study of writers who were immensely popular in their day, but largely forgotten today. Annoying, Florence Marryat doesn’t make an appearance, but it will be an indispensable resource for comparator authors.
- Feminism, Marriage, and the Law in Victorian England – it’s surprisingly difficult to get decent summaries of nineteenth-century legislation. The one rather dry account that I do have completely ignores any Acts relating to women’s rights. Hmmppph.
- Autobiographical Sketches by Annie Besant - apart from being a feminist deity, Annie Besant also attended a school run by Florence Marryat’s aunt, so I’m hoping for a few early recollections.
- Frances Power Cobbe: Victorian Feminist, Journalist, Reformer – another feminist deity, and what looks to be a masterly biography by Sally Mitchell.
- Gender and the Victorian Periodical - an examination of how Victorian periodicals reinforced gender notions.
- Villette – for some reason, all recent research roads seem to be leading to Charlotte Bronte’s Belgian adventure. It’s about 20 years since I last read it, and I’m looking forward to immersing myself in this comprehensive Broadview edition.
- Mystical Vampire: The Life and Works of Mabel Collins - this book must surely win the prize for best title. Mabel Collins was a medium and supposedly raised the spirit of Florence Marryat’s dead daughter.
- Collected Ghost Stories of M R James - the original, and arguably the best.
- Disruptive Acts: The New Woman in Fin-de-Siecle France – a look at gender and performativity across the Channel.
- Kill-Grief - the debut novel by Caroline Rance, which I’ve been wanting to read for a little while (thank you, Kirsty!)
- The Root of All Evil – a rare early edition of a Florence Marryat novel, tracked down by my lovely partner.
I shall report back on selected titles over the coming months.
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Weren’t you a lucky girl? Can’t wait to hear about Disruptive Acts, and I love, love, love MR James. I have a manky 1970s Penguin paperback edition, which I love. It somehow suits manky 1970s-ness.
Happy Birthday Catherine, that’s an impressive and interesting book pile. I love Lucy Snowe in Vilette, and M R James is alaways good for a scare.
Like the new blog look by the way!
Great list! Could be my wish list!
I looked at Kill-Grief and have ordered it. I am interested in the portrayal of Nurses, in the Victorian Period mainly, but this book definitely looks worth reading.
Interesting blog – I’m glad I have found it.
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