A Serious Occupation

Book excerpt: This anthology of literary criticism by Victorian women of letters brings together a wealth of difficult-to-find writings. Originally published from the 1830s through the 1890s, the essays concern a range of topics including poetry, fiction, non-fiction prose, the roles of literature and of criticism, topical reviews of major works, and retrospectives of major authors. Together, they demonstrate the impressive depth and breadth of Victorian women’s literary criticism. This Broadview anthology also includes an introduction, textual and explanatory notes, author biographies, and suggestions for further reading.