Gender, Religion, and Radicalism in the Long Eighteenth Century: The 'Ingenious Quaker' and Her Connections

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Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2006 - Biography & Autobiography - 196 pages
Through analysis of the life and writings of eighteenth-century Quaker artist and author Mary Knowles, Judith Jennings uncovers concrete but complex examples of how gender functioned in family, social and public contexts during the Georgian Age. Knowles' story, including her bold confrontation of Samuel Johnson and public dispute with James Boswell, serves as a lens through which to view larger connections, such as the social transformation of English Quakers, changing concepts of gender and the transmission of radical political ideology during the era of the American and French revolutions. Further, Jennings offers a more nuanced view of the participation of middling women in radical politics through an examination of Knowles' theological beliefs, social networks and political opinions at a time when the American and French Revolutions reshaped political ideology.

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Contents

Matrimony Monarchy and Fame
27
Confronting Samuel Johnson
49
Revolutionary Politics and Literary Skirmishes
73
Defying James Boswell
99
The French Revolution and a New Note
121
Help Me To Pray
145
Conclusion
165
Index
189
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About the author (2006)

Judith Jennings currently directs the Kentucky Foundation for Women, a private fund supporting feminist artists working for positive social change.

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