Women and Achievement in Nineteenth-Century Europe

This major new history of European women''s professional activities and organizational roles during the ''long'' nineteenth century examines what women could and could not do if they sought activity purpose or recognition beyond their own homes. Linda L. Clark surveys women''s achievements in literature art music theater charity education medicine law and public administration and examines the relationship between women''s professional and philanthropic activity and the rise of feminist organizations. She shows that despite continuing legal cultural and familial obstacles thousands of ambitious women pursued professional activities for reasons that often combined economic need with aspirations to do meaningful work and gain public recognition. Detailing women''s accomplishments from England to Russia this unique survey enables readers to connect individual life stories with larger political social and economic contexts between 1789 and 1914 and is essential reading for students of modern European history women''s history and gender studies.