The Prospect Before Her

by HUFTON, OLWEN

• ISBN13: 9780679768180
• ISBN10: 0679768181
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 1998-02-24
• Publisher: Vintage

Summary

How did women in 16th century western Europe cope with the consequences of being considered inherently sinful--as well as being legally and economically subordinate to their fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons? What might become of a woman unable to raise a dowry? What were the difficulties faced by spinsters, single mothers, and widows? In this brilliant investigation into the lives of women from all social strata, Hufton leads us from poor-house to palazzo, from cradle to grave, illuminating what it meant to be female in western Europe during the years 1500 to 1800.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	vii
Introduction: The Limits of the Possible and Questions of Change	3	(25)
Constructing Woman	28	(34)
The Strategic Plan: Marriage as Goal	62	(40)
Finding a Partner, or Questions of Choice	102	(35)
On Being a Wife	137	(40)
Motherhood	177	(44)
Widowhood	221	(34)
Of Difference, of Shame and of Abuse	255	(48)
Kept Mistresses and Common Strumpets	303	(33)
Women and the Devil	336	(27)
Obedient to Thy Will	363	(61)
Corresponding Gentlewomen, Shameless Scribblers, Drudges of the Pen and the Emergence of the Critic	424	(39)
The Woman Rioter or the Riotous Woman?	463	(29)
The Moving Finger?	492	(23)
Notes	515	(50)
Bibliographical Essay	565	(50)
Index	615	(24)
Illustrations	639