Women in history have generally been studied in terms of the men in their lives. In this insightful collection of essays, Williams (literature, University of Reading), music librarian Escott
and independent scholar Duckling and their contributors demonstrate that women's interactions among themselves were, if anything, even more important to their lives. The essays discuss familial
connections between women, the bonding within societies of women: authors, prostitutes and religious groups and the overlapping subject of "adventurous women". The cases are all from the long
eighteenth century, a time better documented than previous eras. The exception is the closing article of the influence of the history of Queen Boadicea, a model for Queen Elizabeth I. Women
such as Emma Hamilton are seen as individuals and others, normally studied in isolation, are seen in the context of friends and family. This volume is appropriately dedicated to the memory of
eighteenth century scholar, Mary Waldron. Distributed by Associated University Presses. Annotation 穢2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
