Celebrate Famous Women in History Learn all about the little-known history of the most impactful and revered female authors in this book by best-selling author Brenda Knight. In Wild Women and Books , dive deeper into the lives and inspirations behind iconic feminists and some of the most famous women in history. Gain inspiration from these feminist stories. As a celebration of perhaps the most revered and radical women writers, best-selling author Brenda Knight brings more than one hundred female authors to life for those looking for inspiration. In chapters such as “Literary First Ladies,” “Ink in Their Veins,” “Banned, Blacklisted, and Arrested,” and so many others, these women and their tumultuous and admirable paths to literary expression make up the most inspiring and unique gift for women looking to make a difference in their day-to-day lives. One of the best gifts ideas for women in your life. From religious transcribers and political dissidents to erotic playwrights and romantic poets, Wild Women and Books leaves no subject and literary form untouched. This feminist book honors those women whose pens pioneered, persevered, and proved that the female voice is brilliant. In Wild Women and Books , discover: Some of the most famous women in history - The first recorded writer, Enheduanna of Sumeria - The stories of critically acclaimed female authors, such as the iconic Toni Morrison - And so much more! If you found inspiration in feminist books like Monster, She Wrote ; Women of Means ; or The Consequences of Feminism , you’ll love Wild Women and Books ! Brenda Knight is the author of Women Who Love Books Too Much and Women of the Beat Generation , winner of an American Book Award. A scholar of medieval literature and modern poetry, she lives in San Francisco, California. Wild Women and books Bibliophiles, Bluestockings & Prolific Pens By Brenda Knight Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC Copyright © 2006 Conari Press All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-57324-271-4 Contents Foreword to the 2006 Editionby Ntozake ShangeForeword by Vicki LeónIntroduction Women Who Love Books Too Muchone First Ladies of Literature Mothers of Inventiontwo Ink in Their Veins Theories of Relativitythree Mystics and Madwomen Subversive Pietyfour Banned, Blacklisted, and Arrested Daring Dissidentsfive Prolific Pens Indefatigable Inksix Salonists and Culture Makers Hermeneutic Circles and Human Historyseven Women Whose Books Are Loved Too Much Adored Authorsappendix Book Groups Chatting It UpResource GuideAcknowledgmentsBibliographyIndex of Names CitedIndex of Works and Periodicals CitedGeneral Index CHAPTER 1 First Ladies of Literature Mothers of Invention Hats and pen caps off to these pioneers who paved the way for every woman whofollowed in their courageous footsteps. Here are stories of their struggles,unmitigated moxie, and abject determination to express themselves and sharetheir views with readers. No fainthearts, these women survived jailing, name-calling,and cruelest of all, having their reputations and accomplishmentshidden for decades and even centuries. In addition to the women profiled here,let's also salute Lady Murasaki Shikubu, the first novelist of any gender, whosenovel, The Tale of Genji , depicted court life, love, and adventure in eleventh-centuryJapan. The literary laureates are rousing as well, slowly but surely knocking downbarriers and opening minds in their wake (and in this category, let us notforget to acknowledge brilliant Marguerite Yourcenar, the first woman"immortal," who in 1980 was elected to the French Academy by secret ballot overthe memorable objections of one member who claimed, "The Academie has survivedover 300 years without women and it could survive another 300 without them.")Aphra Behn, Charles II's spy, dared to write for a living and expected to bepaid for it. (She also went unacknowledged for 300 years as a precursor to thenovel.) From Saint Jerome's unaccredited nuns who really "wrote" the Bible topoet-slave Phillis Wheatley, these first ladies of literature deserve credit forshowing us that real inspiration can come only from being true to yourself atany cost. § ENHEDUANNA sacred poet of Sumeria Any discussion of breakthrough writers must surely begin with Enheduanna, thefirst recorded writer of either gender. Born into the royal family of Sumeria,in the area that in the modern world is known as southern Iraq, she served ashigh priestess to the moon god and goddess, Nanna and Inanna. Her poem-hymnswere written in cuneiform on clay tablets, and they escaped the fate of manyother documents of the time, disintegrating into forgotten dust. Her portrait,carved on a limestone disk, was discovered in an excavation of the ancient cityof Ur. Her greatest work is the "Hymn to Inanna"; it is difficult to know whether sheemploys poetic license when she describes being sent into exile during a time ofpolitical upheaval. Readers can't help but notice that th