'Women's Work': Forgotten Writers

For our random chat segment, we talk about the writers that have been largely forgotten. Women have faced numerous obstacles to getting their art out in the world; at times needing to publish under pseudonyms, and even having their work stolen by their counterparts. The world is improving, but obstacles remain in the literary scene for many.

Show Notes

Show Notes

 

Articles Referenced during the Podcast:

 

• Homme de Plume: What I Learned Sending My Novel Out Under a Male Name by Catherine Nicols. (2015). https://jezebel.com/homme-de-plume-what-i-learned-sending-my-novel-out-und-1720637627
• VS Naipul find no woman writer his literary match – not even Jane Austen by Amy Fallon. (2011). https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/jun/02/vs-naipaul-jane-austen-women-writers
• 12 Women Writers Who Wrote Under Male Pseudonyms by Helen Armitage. (2018). https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/12-female-writers-who-wrote-under-male-pseudonyms/ 
• The often-overlooked Women Behind Male Writers by Noelle Talmon. (2019). https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/women-behind-male-writers/ 
• Why do so few men read books by women? By MA Sieghart. (2021). https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jul/09/why-do-so-few-men-read-books-by-women 
• Male writers continue to dominate literary criticism, Vida study finds by Hannah Ellis-Peterson. (2015). https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/07/male-writers-continue-dominate-literary-criticism-vida-study-finds
• Scent of a Women’s Ink: Are women writers really inferior? by Francine Prose. (1998). https://harpers.org/archive/1998/06/scent-of-a-womans-ink/ 

Didn’t end up quoting, by a fascinating read nonetheless; Joanna Scutts on How We Find – and Lose – Women Writers. (2019). https://lithub.com/joanna-scutts-on-how-we-find-and-lose-women-writers/

 
The Complete Virago Modern Classic Collection (and there are over 717!)

PSA: Announcing a new, collaborative project!
Throughout this episode, it became abundantly clear that the growth and development of literature will remain stunted until we can collate all the overlooked writers into a new Canon, the World Canon. Gareth and I will be developing this list as time goes on, and we would like input on this project. If you are interested, send a message to [e-mail]. 

What is The Pleasure of the Text?

Two friends obsessed with books and writing, we're Shannen and Gareth, and welcome to The Pleasure of the Text Podcast. Reading and writing aren't lonely pursuits, and The Pleasure of the Text lies in the shared imaginative space where readers and writers make meaning together. So tune in and join us as we talk about the books we love, interview remarkable authors, and discuss the writer’s craft.