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Famous Female Authors of the 18th and 19th Centuries
Today, anyone can write and get published, thanks to self-publishing and e-books. But there was a time when things weren’t so easy. Back in the day, getting a manuscript accepted by a publisher was challenging. Writers had to hope a publisher would like their work enough to print it, and even then, they faced tough competition. Specialized publishers started appearing before e-books came along, giving authors more opportunities to get their work out there.
However, if we go further back, men dominated the literary world. Female writers often had to use pen names to publish their work and gain acceptance. While there are many deserving authors, this list highlights some of the pioneering women writers who made significant contributions to literature.
18th and 19th Century Women Writers
1. Jane Austen (1775-1817) – Pride & Prejudice
2. Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) – Jane Eyre
3. Emily Bronte (1818-1848) – Wuthering Heights
4. Charlotte Lennox (1730-1804) – The Female Quixote
5. Susanna Rowson (1762-1824) – Charlotte Temple
6. George Eliot (1819-1880) – Middlemarch
7. Mary Shelley (1797-1851) – Frankenstein
8. Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) – A Vindication of the Rights of Women
9. Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) – Little Women
10. Ann Radcliffe (1764-1823) – The Mysteries of Udolpho
11. Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) – Poet
12. Augusta, Lady Gregory (1852-1932) – Folklorist
13. Anne Bronte (1820-1849) – The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
14. Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865) – North & South
15. Frances Burney (1752-1840) – Evelina
16. Clara Reeve (1729-1807) – The Old English Baron
17. Mary Davys (1674-1732) – The Reform’d Coquet
18. Elizabeth von Arnim (1866-1941) – Elizabeth and Her German Garden
19. Kate Chopin (1850-1904) – The Awakening
20. Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) – Poet
These authors made a remarkable impact on literature during their time. Did you see your favorite female author on the list? Who are your personal favorites? Let’s hear your thoughts.
