Literary Ladies Guide

Isak Dinesen(1885 – 1962), born Karen Christenze Dinesen, was a Danish author best known for her 1937 memoir, Out of Africa, and her long short story, Babette’s Feast.

Later known as Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke, she was published in the United States, after being denied publication in both Denmark and England.

Admired for her poetic prose, her work has endured for her adventurous life as well as her literary talent. Here are quotes by Isak Dinesen hinting at her philosophy on life and her storytelling skills. Read More→

Betty Smith (1896 – 1972) is best known for her sensitive autobiographical 1943 novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, often described as “raw and real.” Following is a selection of memorable quotes from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, an American coming-of-age classic:

After years of struggling to write a novel (she had already achieved a measure of success as a playwright), Betty Smith struck literary gold with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, her first.

Growing up in Brooklyn in the early 1900s is seen from the perspective of Francie Nolan, a down-to-earth girl who’s neither the kind of genius or beautiful heroine that are favored in novels. Read More→

Zora Neale Hurston (1891 – 1960), was an African-American novelist, memoirist, and folklorist associated with the Harlem Renaissance. Here we’ll explore her first-person musings on her books, publishing experiences and her impressions of publishers in general.

She was the first Black student at Barnard College, the women’s college connected with Columbia.

While studying with the noted anthropologist Franz Boas, she was recognized for her talent for storytelling and abiding interest in black cultures of the American South and Caribbean. Read More→

The goal of Literary Ladies’ Guide is to be the most comprehensive archive on the subject of classic women authors (mainly in the English language, or who have been translated into English).

The authors listed must be deceased, since our mission is to focus on our literary foremothers. Fortunately, there are many more women writing today than there were even in the recent past, so to have entries on living writers would be overwhelming.

Sometimes we do veer a bit off the path of literary authors to include historic women journalists and various women of the past who engaged in creative fields categorized as other voices.

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Gwendolyn Brooks (1917 – 2000), the multi-award-winning poet created a significant body of poems reflecting African American life. Following is a selection of quotes by Gwendolyn Brooks on poetry and the poet’s life.

Brooks’  lifetime output encompassed more than twenty books, including children’s books. In 1950 she won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry, becoming the first African American to do so.

In 1968, Brooks was named Poet Laureate for the state of Illinois. From 1985 to 1986 she was Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. Read More→

Dorothy Parker often applied her rapier wit to book reviews she wrote as “Constant Reader” for the New Yorker from 1927 to 1933 and for Esquire from 1957 to 1962. Here’s a selection of gems from Dorothy Parker’s book reviews from the venerable publication.

The prevailing attitude toward Parker’s work as frivolous changed once her stories started being published in the New Yorker in the 1920s. After that, her work became a staple in the magazine, with frequent stories as well as her regular book review column which made good use of her wit and snark. 

Parker appreciated a well written book and beautifully turned phrase. She wasn’t always prickly, but was definitely the most fun to read when her talons came out. Here are selected gems from some of her New Yorker and Esquire reviews. Read More→

“Overnight sensations”—authors whose first books are smash successes—are a rarity, if they exist at all; for even a stellar first effort is most often preceded by years of false starts, sweat, and toil that become invisible once the book is perched on the bestseller list.

What’s more common resembles Louisa May Alcott’s experience—years or decades of steady effort until success seems to “suddenly” arrive.

That’s how it happened for Alcott with Little Women. As we’ve come to find out, she cranked out thrillers, gothic novels, plays, sketches, and more than eighty articles before penning her autobiographical (if highly idealized) novel. Read More→

Colette (1873 – 1954), the noted French author, confidently expressed her experiences of femininity and sexuality through strong female eponymous characters like Claudine and Gigi. Following are some favorite short and sweet quotes by Colette.

When Colette broke away from her first husband, the nefarious Willy (who sought to control her life and work, and indeed, put his own name on her early writings) she reveled in her freedom.

For the remainder of her career, Colette wrote prolifically, producing many novels, and occasionally worked as a journalist. Her love life was the stuff of legend, as well. Read More→