We live in a time where anyone can write and get published, especially with the rise of self-publishing and e-books. Imagine a time when self-publishing didn’t exist and there were no Kindles or Nooks.
In the past, getting a manuscript accepted by a publisher and printed was tough. Writers had to rely on an increasing number of specialized publishers even before the e-book era, which gave them a somewhat better chance.
Before these specialized publishers emerged, writers hoped that larger publishing houses would accept their work. At that time, both men and women were accepted as authors. However, if we go even further back, it was mainly men who dominated bookstores. Women often used pen names to get published.
There are many more writers who could be on this list, and I encourage readers to suggest their favorites (I love discovering new authors). The order of this list isn’t fixed and could change depending on my mood. It’s difficult to rank such remarkable women who have made significant impacts and each has her own strengths. This list is more of a suggestion to acknowledge the pioneering women writers.
I’ve compiled a list of poets and authors in genres like Romantic, Gothic, and mythological, among others. One of the authors included has work published in the 20th century, but since my favorite book of hers was published in the 19th century, she’s made the list. If you haven’t read their work, I highly recommend doing so. Let’s get started.
These women were considered rebels and often had to hide their identities to be recognized as authors. They stand out and deserve our recognition.
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
Did your favorite female author from this time period make the list? Who are your personal favorites? Share your thoughts below.
