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The Glory of Woman: Prescriptive Literature, 1820 - 1829
- Advice to Governesses. London: J. Hatchard, 1827.
Examines the duty of a governess to “[study] the individual characters of her pupils, and [give] her time, heart, and mind to eradicate all that is evil, and to train them to all that is worthy of admiration and respect.”
- Bowen, Abel. The Young Lady’s Book; a manual of elegant recreations, exercises, and pursuits. London: Vizetelly, Branston, and Co., 1829.
A medley of moral advice and, academic instruction calculated to “render a young lady wise and good, [and] to prepare her mind for the duties and trials of life…”.
- Budden, Maria Elizabeth. Right and Wrong: exhibited in the history of Rosa and Agnes. London: J. Harris and Son, 1822.
A children’s novel in which vice and virtue are exemplified by twin sisters: “Looking at [Rosa and Agnes] will be like looking at ourselves in a glass: we shall not only see what is wrong, but how to put it right, and, as their history is very entertaining, it will amuse us as well as improve us.”
- Ewell, Thomas. American Family Physician. Georgetown, D.C.: J. Thomas, 1824.
This medical guide features a section on women’s health, covering pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, infertility, and the “hysterical gits.” Other topics include dental care, children’s health, and venereal disease.
- Garnett, James. Lectures on Female Education. Richmond: T.W. White, 1825.
Advice for girls on topics such as “the moral and religious obligations to improve your time as much as practicable; the best means of improvement; temper and deportment; foibles, faults and vices; manners, accomplishments, fashions and conversation; [and] associates, friends and connexions.”
- Kenrick, William. The Whole Duty of Woman. New York: W. Borradaile, 1821.
Brief essays on marriage, education, religion, and reputation: “Sport not with thy good name, nor run it heedlessly into danger; for the consciousness of thine own innocence, will not protect thee from reproach.”
- Kitchiner, William. The Housekeeper’s Oracle, or, Art of Domestic Management. London: Printed for Whittaker, Treacher, and co., 1829.
“To understand the Economy of Household Affairs is essential to a woman’s proper and pleasant performance of the duties of a Wife and a Mother.”
- The Ladies’ Garland [serial]. Harper’s Ferry, W.Va.: John S. Gallaher, 1825.
“Never touch a sore place in any one’s character; for be assured, whoever you are, that you have a sore place in your own, and a young woman is a flower that may be blasted in a moment.” This weekly serial features fiction, biography, and news items reprinted from various sources.
- The Ladies’ Magazine [serial]. Boston: Putnam & Hunt, 1828.
This magazine contains poetry, fiction, and advice on female conduct, declaring that women “have a power to wield over the other sex, for the use or abuse of which they must be solemnly chargeable at that tribunal whence there lies no appeal.”
- Little Nancy, or, The Punishment of Greediness: a moral tale. Philadelphia: Published by Morgan & Yeager, 1824
A poem about a young girl who eats too much at a party and becomes ill: “My young readers beware, / And avoid with great care, / Such excesses as this you’ve just read; / For be sure you will find / It your interest to mind / What your friends and relations have said.”
- Parkes, William, Mrs. Domestic Duties; or, instructions to young married ladies, on the management of their households… New York: Printed by J. & J. Harper, 1828.
This manual instructs young wives on “social relations, household concerns, regulation of time, [and] moral and religious duties.”
