Damn Scribbling Women

A famous Victorian male author(perhaps Henry James?) once referred to the era's female authors as "Damn Scribbling Women." It sounds as if this gentleman was feeling the pains of competition but I like "scribbling woman".

A portion on an image you'll soon see in
Steeped: The Wanderings & Delights of a Tea Adventurer

It was these scribbling women who helped open the door to the Victoriana rage beginning in the 1970's and 80's. Scholars sought a feminist approach to literature and turned to the almost unknown women writers of the 19th century. The door was thrown wide open once writers such as Annie Besant, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Ann Bronte, Ella D'Arcy, and Harriet Martineau were rediscovered. 

Scholars now wanted to investigate the rippling effect of women's writing on women editors, women's newspapers, murder trials of women, New Woman literature and attitudes towards marriage and divorce.

Studying the social history of the 19th century in order to understand its women writers ultimately opened a room with a view not only for scholars, but also for the modern magazine industry, the interior design world, and savvy entrepreneurs. We were hooked on Victoriana.

Thank you rediscovered Scribbling Women!

What an interesting notion though...being rediscovered as a writer. I can see the haughty raising an eyebrow, drily asking, "There was a time we were not read?"

As a minor writer of my time - sitting among the millions of other bloggers and self publishers on the planet - I would long to be the unexpected delight of another generation after passing through this earthly plane. 

Although...I wouldn't know I'd been rediscovered, would I? 

Damn! 

Technically, I'm best described as a scribbling woman fond of elocution. But why mince words? Oh right, that's what writers do - mince words...as well as measure, chop, stir and scramble them.