Back Talk: Elaine Showalter

ADRIAN BELLESGUARD

Elaine Showalter, professor emeritus of English at Princeton University, is a pioneer of women's studies and feminist literary criticism. Her new book is A Jury of Her Peers: American Women Writers from Anne Bradstreet to Annie Proulx (Knopf; $30). Focusing on published works, not diaries or private letters, it's the first literary history of American female authors.   --Christine Smallwood

What were the biggest surprises you found while researching?

The most important thing for me, and this was a motive for the book, is how good the writing is. I found so much amazing material. This is not about special pleading or making a case for women writers as culturally significant. This is great writing! The second thing was various historical moments that emerged as very significant for women's writing. The Revolutionary War was a tremendous impetus. It's quite astonishing how many books by American women have scenes on July 4, what a key moment it is for them in terms of self-definition.

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