Essays on the Pursuits of Women. All Faithfulls in 2 large slipcases.
“…Who Is It To Decide What Is Fit For Woman’s Brain
Save The Owner Of The Brain Herself?”
[Faithfull, Emily]. Cobbe, Frances Power. Essays on the Pursuits of Women… Also A Paper on Female Education… London: Emily Faithfull…1863.
8vo.; red cloth, stamped in blind and gilt; contemporary owner’s signature on the title page, not affecting text; fine.
First edition of an important woman’s book. A collection of seven essays on various topics, including: “Social Sciences and Congresses and Women’s Part in Them;” “Celibacy v. Marriage;” “What Shall We Do With Our Old Maids?;” “Female Charity: Lay and Monastic;” “Women in Italy, in 1862;” and “Workhouse Sketches.” At the rear of the volume is a list of other works by the author, including two pamphlets: “The Sick in Workhouses” and “Friendless Girls and How to Help Them.”
An intriguing contribution to the canon of feminist tracts, with an especially intriguing preface:
[The] Essays in this volume … were written at various times, and for different purposes [but all are] more or less nearly allied to the general subject of the Pursuits of Women…. Especially do these little Essays apply to the pursuits of Single women – of those who, being debarred from the most natural and blessed of human ties and duties, yet believe that the lives that it has pleased God to bestow on them should neither be aimless for themselves, nor valueless for His creatures.
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