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Carolyn G. Heilbrun
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Writing a Woman's Life Paperback – August 17, 2008

by Carolyn G. Heilbrun (Author), Katha Pollitt (Introduction)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 58 ratings
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"A provocative study that should be in every writer's library."―Washington Post

In this modern classic, Carolyn G. Heilbrun builds an eloquent argument demonstrating that writers conform all too often to society's expectations of what women should be like at the expense of the truth of the female experience. Drawing on the careers of celebrated authors including Virginia Woolf, George Sand, and Dorothy Sayers, Heilbrun illustrates the struggle these writers undertook in both work and life to break away from traditional "male" scripts for women's roles.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    144 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  4. Publication date
    August 17, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    5.6 x 0.5 x 8.3 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0393331644
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0393331646
  8. Lexile measure
    1280L
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"Astute and provocative....Blends the sophistication of recent feminist theory with highly textured details fro the lives of independent and ambitious women."
THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
Drawing on the experience of celebrated women, from George Sand and Virginia Woolf to Dorothy Sayers and Adrienne Rich, Heilbrun examines the struggle these writers undertook when their drives made it impossible for them to follow the traditional "male" script for a woman's life. Refreshing and insightful, this is an homage to brave women past and present, and an invitation to all women to write their own scripts, whatever they may be.

About the Author

Carolyn G. Heilbrun (1926–2003) was a professor of English at Columbia University. A force in literary and feminist theory, she also wrote mysteries under the pen name Amanda Cross.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; Reprint edition (August 17, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393331644
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393331646
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1280L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.6 x 0.5 x 8.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 58 ratings

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Carolyn G. Heilbrun

Carolyn G. Heilbrun

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
58 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Julie
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, inspiring
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2014
Verified Purchase
Heilbrun is a truth teller. This is as fresh and necessary as when it was first written. Brilliant woman, wonderful writing, acute insight into our patriarchal society and the frequently unconscious ways it limits girls and women in their lives. Should be required reading in early high school. The shame is that in 2014 to see women still slogging through the same territory in spite of
the great hope Heilbrun had for the generation coming of age in the 70s 'women's movement'.
7 people found this helpful
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Beatrice Z.
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book on woman's studies
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2014
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I recommend this book to someone who has a curiosity for knowing some aspects on woman's biographies. Heilbrun has a assertive point of view to visualize the details which conforms the writing of women, but also has a great prose which makes me read the entire text in a couple of days.
One person found this helpful
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Ruth E. Kempel
5.0 out of 5 stars For women of maturity
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2013
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I find Heilbrun's writing very stimulating. This is the second of her books I've read, the first being The Last Gift of Time. I highly recommend her work to women in their maturity, who are taking a look at where they've been, and where they are going in life. It is a very positive experience.
7 people found this helpful
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Katy Butler
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2016
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Ground breaking, subtle, lots of food for thought.
One person found this helpful
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Jill Worrall
3.0 out of 5 stars A good option
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2014
Verified Purchase
It is second hand and highlighted, but otherwise fine.
For me, living in New Zealand the postage is 2-3x the cost of the book!
What a pity you can't source stuff here!
Jill
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seeker
5.0 out of 5 stars This woman had courage.
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2015
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Powerful and intimate. Honest and somewhat alarming in regards to her pending suicide. I learned a lot.
One person found this helpful
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Debra Purdy Kong
4.0 out of 5 stars Thought-Provoking Look at the Lives of Women Writers
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2011
When I was in college many years ago, I took only one women's study course, but it made me rethink the way women's history had been written, or should I say distorted, and certainly ignored, by patriarchal biases and discrimination.

Essentially, the book's premise is that women of the 20's and 30's (a generation author Carolyn Heilbrun focused on) were very much confined by conventional expectations. A few writers either chose, or felt forced, to adopt different identities to pursue their passion for writing and to live their lives as writers. Those brave enough to be themselves and defy societal expectation endured negative ramifications; ramifications that continued at the hands of their biographers. The perspectives of twentieth century men writing about women incorporated too many biases and values to provide readers will a full and true picture of the lives of women. Even women writing autobiographies tended to conceal a great deal.

Although the book was interesting, author Carolyn Heilbrun belabored some points, particularly in the twenty-five page introduction. Curiously, the book lacked a table of contents, although there was an index and list of cited work. This book was published in 1988 when words like "stay-at-home dad" and "man crush" were foreign, and a lot of men defined themselves differently than they do today. Generally speaking, women's stories are probably told with more truth and candidness than they once were, but really, does any biographer really know the whole truth, and is any autobiographer, male or female, willing to share it in print? On some levels, revealing all is still a risky business, but not to the degree that it once was. It's too bad that Heilbrun, who passed away several years ago, is no longer here to see the positive changes.
4 people found this helpful
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marjorie ballentine
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2015
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Still relevant. Important for younger women to read.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Itsjustme
5.0 out of 5 stars Great service and used book in great condition
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2019
Verified Purchase
The book arrived in good time, as promised. It was in very good condition, as described. It was exactly what I wanted and need for some research purposes.
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Vaughn Jelliffe
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!!!!
Reviewed in Canada on June 29, 2014
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A fabulous book. Truly one of a kind. It puts a new light on literature written by women. Should be on every basic literature course given.
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Anneliese, Lausanne
4.0 out of 5 stars Great writing from a gifted woman
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 26, 2015
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Great writing: thorough and profound, easy to read and to understand. Carolyn G. Heilbrun was not only a fantastic author but also an excellent teacher. Even in 2015, young or old, women - and men - learn a lot by reading this essay.
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Kelly
2.0 out of 5 stars Dated and Boring
Reviewed in Canada on November 8, 2021
Verified Purchase
I have never given a bad review before but I found this book boring and the author's attitude annoying, bordering on pedantic and arrogant. I was excited to get this book after reading about someone recommending it. A lot has happened since this was written so I cannot see it resonating with young feminists today (which I am not one). Too each their own, this was not my cup of tea. In fact, I have not finished it but I do read it before I go to sleep as it makes me sleepy...
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