Reproduced in facsimile, the original documents of this collection were first published in the UK between 1720-1770, and are presented here with an introduction to the genre by Morris
(Liverpool John Moores University), prefatory introductions to each work, and annotation, particularly of classical quotations. Morris also usefully lists descriptions of the famous women who
are cited as examples in these moralizing texts. Volume 1 includes: Woman triumphant; or, the excellency of the female sex; The young ladies conduct, and Female piety and virtue by John Essex;
and extracts from Eliza Smith's The compleat housewife, 2d ed. The second volume comprises Alexander Monro's The professor's daughter; an essay on female conduct; Woman not inferior to man and
its gloating refutation, Man superior to woman; and Wetenhall Wilkes' A letter of genteel and moral advice to a young lady. Some of the extracts: Edward Moore's Fables for the female sex; David
Fordyce's Dialogues concerning education; William Kenrick's The whole duty of woman; Sarah Pennington's An unfortunate mother's advice to her absent daughters, 3d ed.; the very popular The
polite lady, or, a course of female eduation in a series of letters, from a mother to her daughter by Charles Allen; and An essay on woman, or, physiological historical defence of the fair sex,
by Benito Jer籀nimo Feijoo. Volume 6 contains a comprehensive index. Distributed by Ashgate. Annotation 穢2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
