Kate Chopin, Edith Wharton and Charlotte Perkins Gilman Studies in Short Fiction

Review of Hardback Edition:

'Janet Beer's work is particularly welcome in that it combines meticulously attentive generic and thematic readings... with a scrupulous ability to situate the texts both within the context of the author's oeuvre and within the wider social context of the American fin de siècle... An immensely rich and impressively sustained series of interpretative readings, which makes full use of recent relevant scholarship.' - Helen May Dennis, Journal of American Studies

'In this brilliant book, Janet Beer reinvigorates our readings of these three central authors. Concentrating on their short fiction - along a spectrum from Chopin's micro-narratives to Wharton's novellas and Gilman's social analogues - she opens up the nuances, complications and surprises at the heart of all their writings. Engaged, richly informed, and beautifully crafted, every chapter remains memorable, illuminating unexpected facets of each individual author, and stimulating fresh approaches to their work. Taken together, these subtle readings illuminate the practices and possibilities of women's writing in the 1890s and beyond, and offer original insights into the nature and art of fiction.' - Dr Pamela Knights, Department of English Studies, University of Durham, UK