Description
Book SynopsisAn account of Rachilde's writing that illustrates important questions in feminist literary theory as well as significant features of turn-of-the-century French society. It illuminates nineteenth-century publishing practices and rivalries, including authorial manipulations of the market for sexually suggestive literature.
Trade Review"A well-written, well-edited contribution to the study of women writers and cultural history."—
Choice"Hawthorne's biography is one of the most sophisticated examples of bigraphical writing, persuasively and sympathetically tracing the gender crisis running through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries."—Dawn Marlan,
Modernism/ModernityTable of ContentsContents: List of Illustrations Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations for Works by Rachilde Introduction On Writing Biography: In which the author pays a visit to Perigueux and makes a detour to Galveston 1860, February 11 Women as Outsiders: In which Marguerite Eymery (Rachilde) is born, a werewolf appears, and traps are both set and sprung 1870, October 29 The Ambivalence of the Paternal: In which Captain Eymery is taken prisoner 1875, January or Early February The Cultural Injunction to Silence: In which Rachilde is engaged, appears to attempt suicide, and meets a ghost who delivers an important message 1876, March 1 Woman as Medium: In which seances are held, Madame Eymery meets "Rachilde," and doubles mysteriously appear 1877, June 23 Authority, Authorship, and Authorization: In which Rachilde publishes her first story and Victor Hugo authorizes her 1884, May-July The Politics of Publishing: In which Monsieur Venus is published and the French police take an interest in Rachilde 1884, December 12 Writing as Cross-Dressing: In which Rachilde applies for permission to cross-dress and become a writer 1885, A Thursday in March Marriage and the Woman Writer: In which Rachilde meets Alfred Vallette and marries him, despite some second thoughts 1887, February 26 (A Saturday) The Photograph Never Lies: In which a front page brings attention to Rachilde's hair 1889, October 25 The Cultural Legitimacy of the Woman Writer: In which Rachilde's daughter is born and questions are raised about legitimacy 1890, November 10 Imagining the Self: In which Rachilde's first play is performed and some mirrors are looked into 1894, A Tuesday Male Anxiety at the Fin de Siecle: In which Rachilde, cupbearer to the symbolist gods, meets Alfred Jarry 1900, December 10 Women and Education: In which Rachilde's mother is admitted to the asylum of Charenton and some deficiencies in Rachilde's education become apparent 1925, July 2 Women and Surrealism: In which Rachilde gets into a bun fight 1928, June Gender Anxiety in French Modernism: In which Le Prisonnier is published and Rachilde acts rather queerly 1953, April 4 On Minding: In which Rachilde is reunited with Lison Notes Bibliography Index
