Page 4 - 2019 Spring Newsletter

From Writer to Author

A Special Collections exhibit portraying nineteenth-century British women and the social stigmas that
challenged their aspirations to succeed as published writers.

Pseudonyms and anonymity for female authors were
also popular amongst the desires of publishers. Books
would have a better chance of selling under the disguise
of a seemingly masculine name. Therefore, publishing
anonymously or under a pseudonym was sometimes the
only way for a woman to sell her work to a publisher.

At TCU’s Special Collections, we possess an impressive
collection of nineteenth-century works by women who
sought to overcome this stigma by pursuing their passions
in writing. These works, including first editions by popular
authoresses such as Charlotte Brontë, Mary Shelley
and Jane Austen, not only verify that there was in fact a
stigma, but also reveal the construction of authorship in the
nineteenth-century.

Special Collections has launched a web exhibit spotlighting
gender, authorship and publishing in nineteenth-century
Britain. This exhibit
was written and
created by Pamela
Ahern, a current
undergraduate
Jane Austen student of History
and Anthropology at
Nineteenth-century Britain saw a rising popularity TCU.
in female authorship while women’s roles were more
domestic than ever. Their prolonged time at home Pamela’s interests in
allowed women more time for reading and writing. The History include the
combination of their domestic role and increased writing social and cultural
habits resulted in the rise of anonymous publishings and aspects as well as the
pseudonym use. print culture of early
modern Britain. She
Many nineteenth-century female authors chose to publish recently completed
anonymously or under a pseudonym due to the stigma an internship with
attached to women during this time period. Though TCU’s Special
most women did in fact receive some level of education, Collections to advance her knowledge for a future career
they were widely viewed as dainty, fragile and frivolous in academia. This experience has allowed Pamela to work
beings who were best suited for the domestic duties of a with Special Collections’ inspiring assemblage of many
housewife. of her favorite authors. Pamela’s project with Special
Collections’ nineteenth-century works originated from an
Women who were particularly interested in reading and interest in the challenges early women authors faced and
writing (especially those who were deemed physically how they overcame social prejudices by publishing their
attractive, and therefore, had no need for such learnings) works that would eventually become some of the most
were often referred to as “Bluestockings.” It was believed cherished novels of all time.
that such women were sacrificing their beauty and the
leisurely lifestyle bestowed upon them on matters much To view the exhibit, visit https://exhibits.tcu.edu
better suited for the intellectual man.

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