Literary Ladies Guide
type: channel
description: An archive dedicated to classic women authors and their work
date: 2026-06-28T02:29:36Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
generator agent: https://wordpress.org/
items: Émilie du Châtelet (1706–1749), mathematician, physicist & translator
items: Quotes from Shirley Jackson’s Psychological Thrillers
items: Lizzie Magie: Forgotten Inventor of The Landlord’s Game
items: “I Do Not Consent” The Life of Writer and Activist June Jordan
items: “Marriage and Love” by Emma Goldman, a 1911 essay
items: Literary Centenaries 2026: Classic Fiction by Women Writers
items: Christine de Pizan and The Book of the City of Ladies
items: 5 Classic Novels by Women Writers that Became Oscar-Winning Films
items: Not-so-Famous Last Lines from Classic Novels by Women Writers
items: Tarbell, Herrick & McCormick: Women Who Fought to Report Front Page News

Émilie du Châtelet (1706–1749), mathematician, physicist & translator
type: item
creator: Marie Lebert
date: 2026-06-28T00:08:00Z
subject: Translators (Marie Lebert, contributor)
description: Émilie du Châtelet (1706–1749) was a French mathematician, physicist, and translator. Her major work as a writer was Foundations of Physics, first published in 1740. Her major work as a translator was the translation of fellow scientist Isaac Newton’s seminal book Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy from its original Latin into French. Published in 1759, her translation is still the standard French translation to this day. Émilie du Châtelet received a good education in literature, mathematics and science. After marrying the Marquis du Châtelet at the age of nineteen and bearing three children, she resumed her mathematical studies in 1733 at the age of twenty-six. She became the intellectual collaborator and romantic partner of the French philosopher Voltaire, one of the key figures of the Enlightenment. Later on, while still being friends with her husband and with Voltaire, she began an affair with the French poet Jean Francois de Saint-Lambert but didn’t survive a new pregnancy one year later. Émilie was the first woman to have an essay published by the French Royal Academy of Sciences in 1739. Her essay dealt with the nature and propagation of fire (“Dissertation sur la nature et la propagation du feu”). . . . . . . . . . . <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-27638" src="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/du_chatelet-emilie-1.jpg" alt="emilie du châtelet" width="372" height="475" srcset="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/du_chatelet-emilie-1.jpg 424w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/du_chatelet-emilie-1-235x300.jpg 235w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/du_chatelet-emilie-1-187x239.jpg 187w" sizes="(max-width: 372px) 100vw, 372px" /> Émilie du Châtelet . . . . . . . . . Foundations of Physics Émilie du Châtelet’s main work as a writer was Foundations of Physics (original title: Institutions de Physique), published in Paris…
encoded: Émilie du Châtelet (1706–1749) was a French mathematician, physicist, and translator. Her major work as a writer was Foundations of Physics, first published in 1740. Her major work as a translator was the translation of fellow scientist Isaac Newton’s seminal book Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy from its original Latin into French. Published in 1759, her translation is still the standard French translation to this day. Émilie du Châtelet received a good education in literature, mathematics and science. After marrying the Marquis du Châtelet at the age of nineteen and bearing three children, she resumed her mathematical studies in 1733 at the age of twenty-six. She became the intellectual collaborator and romantic partner of the French philosopher Voltaire, one of the key figures of the Enlightenment. Later on, while still being friends with her husband and with Voltaire, she began an affair with the French poet Jean Francois de Saint-Lambert but didn’t survive a new pregnancy one year later. Émilie was the first woman to have an essay published by the French Royal Academy of Sciences in 1739. Her essay dealt with the nature and propagation of fire (“Dissertation sur la nature et la propagation du feu”). . . . . . . . . . . <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-27638" src="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/du_chatelet-emilie-1.jpg" alt="emilie du châtelet" width="372" height="475" srcset="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/du_chatelet-emilie-1.jpg 424w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/du_chatelet-emilie-1-235x300.jpg 235w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/du_chatelet-emilie-1-187x239.jpg 187w" sizes="(max-width: 372px) 100vw, 372px" /> Émilie du Châtelet . . . . . . . . . Foundations of Physics Émilie du Châtelet’s main work as a writer was Foundations of Physics (original title: Institutions de Physique), pub…

Quotes from Shirley Jackson’s Psychological Thrillers
type: item
creator: Emma Ward
date: 2026-06-26T11:24:10Z
subject: Author Quotes
subject: Shirley Jackson
description: Shirley Jackson (1916 – 1965) was an American author whose work explored motifs of psychological horror. Presented here is a selection of quotes from Shirley Jackson’s best-known fiction in this genre, in which she was a master. Many of her works addressed the dark side of human nature. “The Lottery” (1948) is her best-known short story; standouts among her novels are The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Life Among the Savages and Raising Demons pioneered the genre of “momoirs” that inspired such writers as Erma Bombeck and Jean Kerr. In Jackson’s case, her own family life wasn’t quite as fun as the glossy and wry depictions in her pages. As a master of the psychological horror genre, Jackson influenced Stephen King and others. Having suffered from various ailments and addictions, she was only forty-eight when she died of heart failure. Even so, Jackson’s literary legacy has proven sturdy and enduring. . . . . . . . . . . The Lottery (1948) <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-4995" src="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/the_lottery.jpg" alt="The lottery by Shirley Jackson" width="368" height="565" srcset="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/the_lottery.jpg 360w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/the_lottery-195x300.jpg 195w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/the_lottery-175x269.jpg 175w" sizes="(max-width: 368px) 100vw, 368px" /> The Lottery and Other Stories “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.” . . . . . . . . . . “Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, Read More→ The post Quotes from Shirley Jackson’s Psychological Thrillers appeared first on Literary Ladies Guide.
encoded: Shirley Jackson (1916 – 1965) was an American author whose work explored motifs of psychological horror. Presented here is a selection of quotes from Shirley Jackson’s best-known fiction in this genre, in which she was a master. Many of her works addressed the dark side of human nature. “The Lottery” (1948) is her best-known short story; standouts among her novels are The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Life Among the Savages and Raising Demons pioneered the genre of “momoirs” that inspired such writers as Erma Bombeck and Jean Kerr. In Jackson’s case, her own family life wasn’t quite as fun as the glossy and wry depictions in her pages. As a master of the psychological horror genre, Jackson influenced Stephen King and others. Having suffered from various ailments and addictions, she was only forty-eight when she died of heart failure. Even so, Jackson’s literary legacy has proven sturdy and enduring. . . . . . . . . . . The Lottery (1948) <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-4995" src="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/the_lottery.jpg" alt="The lottery by Shirley Jackson" width="368" height="565" srcset="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/the_lottery.jpg 360w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/the_lottery-195x300.jpg 195w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/the_lottery-175x269.jpg 175w" sizes="(max-width: 368px) 100vw, 368px" /> The Lottery and Other Stories “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.” . . . . . . . . . . “Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones.” . . . . . . . . . . “They stood together, away from the pile of stones in the corner, and their jokes were quiet and they smiled rather than la…

Lizzie Magie: Forgotten Inventor of The Landlord’s Game
type: item
creator: Evan Atlas
date: 2026-06-05T21:31:37Z
subject: Other Voices
description: Introduction by Literary Ladies Guide: Although Monopoly is one of the most iconic board games in the world, the fascinating story of its origins has been lost to time. First published by Parker Brothers in 1935, the game’s invention was long credited to Charles Darrow, a salesman. But Monopoly was actually based on The Landlord’s Game, invented and patented by Lizzie Magie in 1904. The usurping game is now the best-selling modern board game, by far, with approximately 285 million copies sold. Its digital equivalent, Monopoly Go!, has amassed 150 million downloads, with millions of daily active users. Some history of Lizzie Magie and her invention is explored in the following piece by Evan Atlas, who recently reimagined Magie’s creation as an online game called Prosperity. . . . . . . . . . Lizzie Magie and The Landlord’s Game Contributed by Evan Atlas Who Was Lizzie Magie? She was a champion of prosperity. That’s the short version. But this incredibly multifaceted woman defies brief classification. Her path was one of iconoclasm and entrepreneurial creativity. Elizabeth Jones Magie (1866 – 1948), born in Macomb, Illinois, was the daughter of James Kingsley Magie and Mary Jane Ritchie. Her father sparked her lifelong interest in economic justice by introducing her to Progress and Poverty, the groundbreaking book by Henry George. It not only inspired The Landlord’s Game, but stayed with her throughout her life. . . . . . . . . . . . <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-27494" src="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The-Sign-of-the-Flying-Hands-Lizzie-Magie-General-Typewriter-and-Stenographer.jpg" alt="The Sign of the Flying Hands, Lizzie Magie, General Typewriter and Stenographer" width="500" height="194" srcset="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The-Sign-of-the-Flying-Hands-Lizzie-Magie-General-Typewriter-and-Stenographer.jpg 500w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-co…
encoded: Introduction by Literary Ladies Guide: Although Monopoly is one of the most iconic board games in the world, the fascinating story of its origins has been lost to time. First published by Parker Brothers in 1935, the game’s invention was long credited to Charles Darrow, a salesman. But Monopoly was actually based on The Landlord’s Game, invented and patented by Lizzie Magie in 1904. The usurping game is now the best-selling modern board game, by far, with approximately 285 million copies sold. Its digital equivalent, Monopoly Go!, has amassed 150 million downloads, with millions of daily active users. Some history of Lizzie Magie and her invention is explored in the following piece by Evan Atlas, who recently reimagined Magie’s creation as an online game called Prosperity. . . . . . . . . . Lizzie Magie and The Landlord’s Game Contributed by Evan Atlas Who Was Lizzie Magie? She was a champion of prosperity. That’s the short version. But this incredibly multifaceted woman defies brief classification. Her path was one of iconoclasm and entrepreneurial creativity. Elizabeth Jones Magie (1866 – 1948), born in Macomb, Illinois, was the daughter of James Kingsley Magie and Mary Jane Ritchie. Her father sparked her lifelong interest in economic justice by introducing her to Progress and Poverty, the groundbreaking book by Henry George. It not only inspired The Landlord’s Game, but stayed with her throughout her life. . . . . . . . . . . . <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-27494" src="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The-Sign-of-the-Flying-Hands-Lizzie-Magie-General-Typewriter-and-Stenographer.jpg" alt="The Sign of the Flying Hands, Lizzie Magie, General Typewriter and Stenographer" width="500" height="194" srcset="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The-Sign-of-the-Flying-Hands-Lizzie-Magie-General-Typewriter-and-Stenographer.jpg 500w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-co…

“I Do Not Consent” The Life of Writer and Activist June Jordan
type: item
creator: Elodie Barnes
date: 2026-05-08T20:38:19Z
subject: Author biography
subject: Elodie Barnes
description: June Jordan (July 9, 1936 – June 14, 2002) was a poet, playwright, and essayist, known for her political activism and commitment to human rights. Her writing spanned thirty years and nearly thirty books, covering subjects such as marginalization, oppression, and inequality, as well as racial, political, and sexual identity. She was also passionate about the use of Black English in writing and in education, and had a thriving teaching career in several universities. Early life in New York June Millicent Jordan was born in the Harlem section of New York City in 1936 and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Her parents, Mildred and Granville Jordan were immigrants from Panama and Jamaica, respectively. An only child, she had a difficult relationship with her father, who never hid his disappointment that she was not a boy. Later, she would write, “For a long while during childhood I was relatively small, short, and, in some other ways, a target for bully abuse. In fact, my father was the first regular bully in my life.” However, she credited him with passing along his love of literature, and by age seven, she began writing her own poetry. Her mother later took her own life. Fifteen years later, in a 1981 essay called “Many Rivers To Cross,” Jordan wrote: “I thought about the idea of my mother as a good woman and I rejected that, because I don’t see why it’s a good thing when you give up, or when you cooperate with those who hate you…I came too late to help my mother to her feet. By way of everlasting thanks to all the women who have helped me to stay alive I am working never to be late again.” She attended Midwood High School in Brooklyn for a year, Read More→ The post “I Do Not Consent” The Life of Writer and Activist June Jordan appeared first on Literary Ladies Guide.
encoded: June Jordan (July 9, 1936 – June 14, 2002) was a poet, playwright, and essayist, known for her political activism and commitment to human rights. Her writing spanned thirty years and nearly thirty books, covering subjects such as marginalization, oppression, and inequality, as well as racial, political, and sexual identity. She was also passionate about the use of Black English in writing and in education, and had a thriving teaching career in several universities. Early life in New York June Millicent Jordan was born in the Harlem section of New York City in 1936 and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Her parents, Mildred and Granville Jordan were immigrants from Panama and Jamaica, respectively. An only child, she had a difficult relationship with her father, who never hid his disappointment that she was not a boy. Later, she would write, “For a long while during childhood I was relatively small, short, and, in some other ways, a target for bully abuse. In fact, my father was the first regular bully in my life.” However, she credited him with passing along his love of literature, and by age seven, she began writing her own poetry. Her mother later took her own life. Fifteen years later, in a 1981 essay called “Many Rivers To Cross,” Jordan wrote: “I thought about the idea of my mother as a good woman and I rejected that, because I don’t see why it’s a good thing when you give up, or when you cooperate with those who hate you…I came too late to help my mother to her feet. By way of everlasting thanks to all the women who have helped me to stay alive I am working never to be late again.” She attended Midwood High School in Brooklyn for a year, followed by the elite Northfield School in Massachusetts. The student bodies of both schools were predominantly white. In 1953, she attended Barnard College in New York (the women’s college affiliated with Columbia University), but also felt alienated as a Black student, and by the white-centered curriculum. In her 1981 b…

“Marriage and Love” by Emma Goldman, a 1911 essay
type: item
creator: Taylor Jasmine
date: 2026-04-20T21:23:55Z
subject: Full Texts of Classic Works
subject: Emma Goldman
description: Emma Goldman (1869 – 1940) was a noted as a promoter of the anarchist philosophy. Best known for her role in the development of its theories in the early twentieth century, she was also actively involved in other social reforms. “Marriage and Love,” one of her best-known and widely read essays. This thoughtful, often cynical, and surprising examination of marriage in the early twentieth century still speaks to the contemporary institution in many ways. In 1906, Goldman founded the Mother Earth Journal, serving as both an editor and frequent contributor. The essay that follows was originally published by Mother Earth Publishing Association in 1911. It is in the public domain. . . . . . . . . . . Marriage and Love by Emma Goldman The popular notion about marriage and love is that they are synonymous, that they spring from the same motives, and cover the same human needs. Like most popular notions this also rests not on actual facts, but on superstition. Marriage and love have nothing in common; they are as far apart as the poles; are, in fact, antagonistic to each other. No doubt some marriages have been the result of love. Not, however, because love could assert itself only in marriage; much rather is it because few people can completely outgrow a convention. There are today large numbers of men and women to whom marriage is naught but a farce, but who submit to it for the sake of public opinion. At any rate, while it is true that some marriages are based on love, and while it is equally true that in some cases love continues in married life, I maintain that it does so regardless of marriage, and not because of it. Read More→ The post “Marriage and Love” by Emma Goldman, a 1911 essay appeared first on Literary Ladies Guide.
encoded: Emma Goldman (1869 – 1940) was a noted as a promoter of the anarchist philosophy. Best known for her role in the development of its theories in the early twentieth century, she was also actively involved in other social reforms. “Marriage and Love,” one of her best-known and widely read essays. This thoughtful, often cynical, and surprising examination of marriage in the early twentieth century still speaks to the contemporary institution in many ways. In 1906, Goldman founded the Mother Earth Journal, serving as both an editor and frequent contributor. The essay that follows was originally published by Mother Earth Publishing Association in 1911. It is in the public domain. . . . . . . . . . . Marriage and Love by Emma Goldman The popular notion about marriage and love is that they are synonymous, that they spring from the same motives, and cover the same human needs. Like most popular notions this also rests not on actual facts, but on superstition. Marriage and love have nothing in common; they are as far apart as the poles; are, in fact, antagonistic to each other. No doubt some marriages have been the result of love. Not, however, because love could assert itself only in marriage; much rather is it because few people can completely outgrow a convention. There are today large numbers of men and women to whom marriage is naught but a farce, but who submit to it for the sake of public opinion. At any rate, while it is true that some marriages are based on love, and while it is equally true that in some cases love continues in married life, I maintain that it does so regardless of marriage, and not because of it. On the other hand, it is utterly false that love results from marriage. On rare occasions one does hear of a miraculous case of a married couple falling in love after marriage, but on close examination it will be found that it is a mere adjustment to the inevitable. Certainly the growing-used to each other is far away from the spontaneity, the intensity, a…

Literary Centenaries 2026: Classic Fiction by Women Writers
type: item
creator: Nava Atlas
date: 2026-04-12T01:09:34Z
subject: Literary Musings
description: I find literary centenaries fascinating. What books were being read and discussed one hundred years ago? What books and stories have become classics? Here we’ll explore literary centenaries that happened in 2026 — specifically, books by women writers published in 1926. Which have stood the test of time? Because of the hoopla surrounding the centenary of The Great Gatsby in 2025, I did a similar roundup of books and stories by women writers from 1925. All of these books and stories following are in the public domain, so you might find free versions of them online on sites like Project Gutenberg. Many are still circulating in print form in public or university libraries; and audio versions of most are available as well. . . . . . . . . . . . The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-23451" src="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Blue-Castle-Audiobook.jpg" alt="The Blue Castle Audiobook" width="459" height="459" srcset="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Blue-Castle-Audiobook.jpg 500w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Blue-Castle-Audiobook-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Blue-Castle-Audiobook-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Blue-Castle-Audiobook-187x187.jpg 187w" sizes="(max-width: 459px) 100vw, 459px" /> Canadian author L.M. Montgomery (1874 – 1942) is best known for her Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon series. The Blue Castle (1926) was two novels she intended for adults (though all her books can be enjoyed by readers of all ages; the other is A Tangled Web, 1931). While this book may not be as famous as Montgomery’s Anne and Emily series, it’s beloved by those who have discovered it, and is one of her few standalone novels. The story’s heroine, Valancy Stirling, is considered a hopeless old maid at …
encoded: I find literary centenaries fascinating. What books were being read and discussed one hundred years ago? What books and stories have become classics? Here we’ll explore literary centenaries that happened in 2026 — specifically, books by women writers published in 1926. Which have stood the test of time? Because of the hoopla surrounding the centenary of The Great Gatsby in 2025, I did a similar roundup of books and stories by women writers from 1925. All of these books and stories following are in the public domain, so you might find free versions of them online on sites like Project Gutenberg. Many are still circulating in print form in public or university libraries; and audio versions of most are available as well. . . . . . . . . . . . The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-23451" src="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Blue-Castle-Audiobook.jpg" alt="The Blue Castle Audiobook" width="459" height="459" srcset="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Blue-Castle-Audiobook.jpg 500w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Blue-Castle-Audiobook-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Blue-Castle-Audiobook-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Blue-Castle-Audiobook-187x187.jpg 187w" sizes="(max-width: 459px) 100vw, 459px" /> Canadian author L.M. Montgomery (1874 – 1942) is best known for her Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon series. The Blue Castle (1926) was two novels she intended for adults (though all her books can be enjoyed by readers of all ages; the other is A Tangled Web, 1931). While this book may not be as famous as Montgomery’s Anne and Emily series, it’s beloved by those who have discovered it, and is one of her few standalone novels. The story’s heroine, Valancy Stirling, is considered a hopeless old maid at …

Christine de Pizan and The Book of the City of Ladies
type: item
creator: Marie Lebert
date: 2026-04-10T16:16:16Z
subject: Book descriptions
subject: Translators (Marie Lebert, contributor)
description: Christine de Pizan (alternatively Pisan) 1364–1430), an Italian-French court writer, is best remembered for The Book of the City of Ladies and its follow-up, The Treasure of the City of Ladies, two manuscripts dated 1405. A prolific writer of poetry, novels, biography and commentary in vernacular French, she earned a living with her writing and is considered the first professional woman writer in Europe. Christine de Pizan’s husband died of the plague in 1389, a year after her father’s death, leaving her to support her children and her mother as a court writer. This was considered a male occupation. She skillfully used patronage in turbulent political times, with royalty commissioning her work, and became a prolific writer, with forty known works which include poetry, novels and biography, as well as literary, historical, philosophical, political and religious commentary. Christine was personally involved in the production of her books, supervising the production of beautifully illustrated manuscripts that were acquired by fellow intellectuals for their own libraries. . . . . . . . . . . . . <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-27403" src="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/From-The-Book-of-he-City-of-Ladies-by-Christine-de-Pizan.jpg" alt="From The Book of the City of Ladies by Christine de Pizan" width="504" height="385" srcset="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/From-The-Book-of-he-City-of-Ladies-by-Christine-de-Pizan.jpg 474w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/From-The-Book-of-he-City-of-Ladies-by-Christine-de-Pizan-300x229.jpg 300w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/From-The-Book-of-he-City-of-Ladies-by-Christine-de-Pizan-187x143.jpg 187w" sizes="(max-width: 504px) 100vw, 504px" />. . . . . . . . . . . . The Book of the City of Ladies Why did Christine de Pizan write The Book of the City of Ladies (Le Livre de la Cité des …
encoded: Christine de Pizan (alternatively Pisan) 1364–1430), an Italian-French court writer, is best remembered for The Book of the City of Ladies and its follow-up, The Treasure of the City of Ladies, two manuscripts dated 1405. A prolific writer of poetry, novels, biography and commentary in vernacular French, she earned a living with her writing and is considered the first professional woman writer in Europe. Christine de Pizan’s husband died of the plague in 1389, a year after her father’s death, leaving her to support her children and her mother as a court writer. This was considered a male occupation. She skillfully used patronage in turbulent political times, with royalty commissioning her work, and became a prolific writer, with forty known works which include poetry, novels and biography, as well as literary, historical, philosophical, political and religious commentary. Christine was personally involved in the production of her books, supervising the production of beautifully illustrated manuscripts that were acquired by fellow intellectuals for their own libraries. . . . . . . . . . . . . <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-27403" src="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/From-The-Book-of-he-City-of-Ladies-by-Christine-de-Pizan.jpg" alt="From The Book of the City of Ladies by Christine de Pizan" width="504" height="385" srcset="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/From-The-Book-of-he-City-of-Ladies-by-Christine-de-Pizan.jpg 474w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/From-The-Book-of-he-City-of-Ladies-by-Christine-de-Pizan-300x229.jpg 300w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/From-The-Book-of-he-City-of-Ladies-by-Christine-de-Pizan-187x143.jpg 187w" sizes="(max-width: 504px) 100vw, 504px" />. . . . . . . . . . . . The Book of the City of Ladies Why did Christine de Pizan write The Book of the City of Ladies (Le Livre de la Cité des …

5 Classic Novels by Women Writers that Became Oscar-Winning Films
type: item
creator: Nava Atlas
date: 2026-03-18T19:16:11Z
subject: Film & Stage Adaptations of Classic Novels
subject: Daphne Du Maurier
subject: Edna Ferber
subject: Harper Lee
subject: Laura Z. Hobson
subject: Margaret Mitchell
description: Here’s a look at five Academy Award-winning films based on now-classic novels by women writers: Cimarron, Gone with the Wind, Rebecca, Gentleman’s Agreement, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Novels have long provided rich narrative material for film, though it seems that this practice is less common that it was in the past. At least in the first part of the 20th century, well-regarded bestsellers were regularly adapted to film. This could be relative, though; so many more books are being published and vying for attention in the present. Following these, you’ll find a list of a dozen more Oscar-nominated and winning films that helped cement their original novels in the public imagination, even if some of their authors are not well remembered today. . . . . . . . . . . Cimarron (1931) <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-27292" src="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cimarron.jpg" alt="Cimarron by Edna Ferber" width="380" height="507" srcset="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cimarron.jpg 380w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cimarron-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cimarron-187x249.jpg 187w" sizes="(max-width: 380px) 100vw, 380px" /> Cimarron was a 1930 novel by the prolific Edna Ferber. It was quickly adapted to film, earning accolades and winning the Academy Award for Best Picture (then called Best Production) in 1931 It was the first (and remained one of only a handful of) western to win this major award. Though it wasn’t the first of Ferber’s novels to be adapted to film, it was a far more expansive (and expensive) production. It paved the way for more Hollywood blockbusters based on other Ferber novels, including Showboat, Giant, and others. Cimarron takes on the subject of the Oklahoma territory Land Run of 1889. The film was nominated for Best Actor, Best Actress, Read More→ The post 5 Classic …
encoded: Here’s a look at five Academy Award-winning films based on now-classic novels by women writers: Cimarron, Gone with the Wind, Rebecca, Gentleman’s Agreement, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Novels have long provided rich narrative material for film, though it seems that this practice is less common that it was in the past. At least in the first part of the 20th century, well-regarded bestsellers were regularly adapted to film. This could be relative, though; so many more books are being published and vying for attention in the present. Following these, you’ll find a list of a dozen more Oscar-nominated and winning films that helped cement their original novels in the public imagination, even if some of their authors are not well remembered today. . . . . . . . . . . Cimarron (1931) <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-27292" src="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cimarron.jpg" alt="Cimarron by Edna Ferber" width="380" height="507" srcset="https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cimarron.jpg 380w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cimarron-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cimarron-187x249.jpg 187w" sizes="(max-width: 380px) 100vw, 380px" /> Cimarron was a 1930 novel by the prolific Edna Ferber. It was quickly adapted to film, earning accolades and winning the Academy Award for Best Picture (then called Best Production) in 1931 It was the first (and remained one of only a handful of) western to win this major award. Though it wasn’t the first of Ferber’s novels to be adapted to film, it was a far more expansive (and expensive) production. It paved the way for more Hollywood blockbusters based on other Ferber novels, including Showboat, Giant, and others. Cimarron takes on the subject of the Oklahoma territory Land Run of 1889. The film was nominated for Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Director, though it w…

Not-so-Famous Last Lines from Classic Novels by Women Writers
type: item
creator: Nava Atlas
date: 2026-03-12T00:21:44Z
subject: Literary Musings
description: There have been plenty of roundups of famous first sentences from beloved novels. I even did one here. But famous last lines? Or more accurately, not-so-famous last lines — it’s time to take a look at how eleven women writers chose to tie up their iconic works. Don’t be afraid to look, there are no spoilers here. The best first lines surely are evocative, and set the stage for what’s to come, like this one from Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. “Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” And what devoted reader isn’t familiar with the first line of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice — “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Compared with this memorable opening, P and P ends with a thud: “With the Gardiners they were always on the most intimate terms. Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, really loved them; and they were both ever sensible of the warmest gratitude towards the persons who, by bringing her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them.” Say what? It reads as if the usually brilliant Jane Austen ran out of steam when it came to the last sentence of her most iconic work. It’s quite a run-on, too! . . . . . . . . . . <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="sizing-normal aligncenter" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OKLe!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa923fb14-507a-4607-a6e1-67f7445d1a95_380x570.jpeg" sizes="100vw" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OKLe!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa923fb14-507a-4607-a6e1-67f7445d1a95_380x570.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OKLe!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa923fb14-507a-4607-a6e1-67f7445d1a95_380x570.jpeg 848w, h…
encoded: There have been plenty of roundups of famous first sentences from beloved novels. I even did one here. But famous last lines? Or more accurately, not-so-famous last lines — it’s time to take a look at how eleven women writers chose to tie up their iconic works. Don’t be afraid to look, there are no spoilers here. The best first lines surely are evocative, and set the stage for what’s to come, like this one from Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. “Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” And what devoted reader isn’t familiar with the first line of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice — “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Compared with this memorable opening, P and P ends with a thud: “With the Gardiners they were always on the most intimate terms. Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, really loved them; and they were both ever sensible of the warmest gratitude towards the persons who, by bringing her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them.” Say what? It reads as if the usually brilliant Jane Austen ran out of steam when it came to the last sentence of her most iconic work. It’s quite a run-on, too! . . . . . . . . . . <source srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OKLe!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa923fb14-507a-4607-a6e1-67f7445d1a95_380x570.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OKLe!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa923fb14-507a-4607-a6e1-67f7445d1a95_380x570.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OKLe!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa923fb14-507a-4607-a6e1-67f7445d1a95_380x570.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OKLe!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:go…

Tarbell, Herrick & McCormick: Women Who Fought to Report Front Page News
type: item
creator: Nava Atlas
date: 2026-02-14T00:00:00Z
subject: Trailblazing Women Journalists
description: Ida Tarbell, Genevieve Forbes Herrick, and Anne O’Hare McCormick, three trailblazing journalists from the early twentieth century, fought to report hard news — the kinds of stories that have a place on the front page. At right: Genevieve Forbes Herrick, who is very rarely depected in a photo. The American newsroom of the first decades of the twentieth century, where front-page news was produced, was all but closed to women. Ishbell Ross, a respected journalist of the 1920s, believed that all city editors secretly thought: “Girls, we like you well enough, but we don’t altogether trust you.” At the dawn of the 1900s, American journalism was changing at a dizzying pace. In newsrooms of major city papers, the clacking of typewriters had replaced the scribbling of pens. The linotype machine revolutionized the printing process. Now, each letter of type didn’t have to be set by hand. Just as important, the kind of splashy undercover stories that made stunt girl reporters like Nellie Bly and Winifred Bonfils famous was falling out of favor. Investigative journalism, newly respectable, relied on careful research and fact-checking instead of wild set-ups and dramatic storytelling of earlier times. Something else that was changing — finally — was the number of female journalists. In the 1880s there were just a few hundred in the entire country. By 1900 that number grew to nearly 2,200, and by the end of the 1930s, there were about 16,000 women in American journalism. Sure, it was a great improvement. But the majority of “girl reporters,” as they were called, were assigned to women’s pages or features that weren’t front page news — society, Read More→ The post Tarbell, Herrick & McCormick: Women Who Fought to Report Front Page News appeared first on Literary Ladies Guide.
encoded: Ida Tarbell, Genevieve Forbes Herrick, and Anne O’Hare McCormick, three trailblazing journalists from the early twentieth century, fought to report hard news — the kinds of stories that have a place on the front page. At right: Genevieve Forbes Herrick, who is very rarely depected in a photo. The American newsroom of the first decades of the twentieth century, where front-page news was produced, was all but closed to women. Ishbell Ross, a respected journalist of the 1920s, believed that all city editors secretly thought: “Girls, we like you well enough, but we don’t altogether trust you.” At the dawn of the 1900s, American journalism was changing at a dizzying pace. In newsrooms of major city papers, the clacking of typewriters had replaced the scribbling of pens. The linotype machine revolutionized the printing process. Now, each letter of type didn’t have to be set by hand. Just as important, the kind of splashy undercover stories that made stunt girl reporters like Nellie Bly and Winifred Bonfils famous was falling out of favor. Investigative journalism, newly respectable, relied on careful research and fact-checking instead of wild set-ups and dramatic storytelling of earlier times. Something else that was changing — finally — was the number of female journalists. In the 1880s there were just a few hundred in the entire country. By 1900 that number grew to nearly 2,200, and by the end of the 1930s, there were about 16,000 women in American journalism. Sure, it was a great improvement. But the majority of “girl reporters,” as they were called, were assigned to women’s pages or features that weren’t front page news — society, home, fashion, and family. Of course, there was nothing wrong (and there still isn’t) with covering those topics — if that’s what a woman reporter chose to do. But for the most part, female journalists weren’t given that choice and continued to be unwelcome in city newsrooms. That doesn’t mean that women had failed. Women’s pages, as they we…