In the American colonies and early days of the Republic, for a woman to dare enter public discourse was a radical act of rebellion.  Following is an introduction to six of the most prominent early American women writers, all of whom deserve to be rediscovered and read.

To write and be published at a time when women had few legal or economic rights was just short of miraculous. To avoid censure, some occasionally wrote under pseudonyms, while others used their own names, consequences be damned!

In 1650, The Tenth Muse, Lately Sprung Up in America, a collection of poems by Anne Bradstreet, was the first publication in the colonies. From then on, women who wrote were criticized for being unwomanly and going against God’s teachings. Read More→