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Mad, Bad, and Well Read: An Examination of Women Readers and Education in the Novels of Mary Elizabeth Braddon

Sowards, Heather M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1377080923

Abstract Details

2013, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, English (Arts and Sciences).
In exploring the early writings and marketing techniques of Mary Elizabeth Braddon, an infamously successful Sensationalist of the 1860s, Sowards argues that this highly criticized author used writing strategies common to her genre to guide her female readers into better reading practices. Focusing on several existing theories about women's reading behaviors, Sowards revises the way in which scholars have overlooked the Sensational genre as nothing more than frivolous, low art. She contends that Braddon uses particular representations of fictional female readers to develop the critical thinking skills of her real female readers. For these reasons, Sowards concludes that through this particular writing approach, Braddon was able to bring attention to female reading practices, offer a more expansive view of Victorian femininity, and blur the lines between Sensationalism and Realism.
Joseph McLaughlin (Committee Chair)
290 p.
Literature; Womens Studies
Victorian women; Victorian readers; women readers; Sensation fiction; Victorian illustrations

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Sowards, H. M. (2013). Mad, Bad, and Well Read: An Examination of Women Readers and Education in the Novels of Mary Elizabeth Braddon [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1377080923

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Sowards, Heather. Mad, Bad, and Well Read: An Examination of Women Readers and Education in the Novels of Mary Elizabeth Braddon. 2013. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1377080923.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Sowards, Heather. "Mad, Bad, and Well Read: An Examination of Women Readers and Education in the Novels of Mary Elizabeth Braddon." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1377080923

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.