Women Writing How They Pleased (Press, 30 April 1988)

The book "Writing For Their Lives: The Modernist Women 1910-1940," authored by Gillian Hanscombe and Virginia L. Smyers, examines the significant yet often overlooked contributions made by a group of modernist women writers to twentieth-century literature. Published in 1987, the book highlights the lives and works of influential female authors such as Dorothy Richardson, Winifred Bryher, Sylvia Beech, Djuna Barnes, Marianne Moore, May Sinclair, Amy Lowell, Harriet Weaver, Gertrude Stein, and Mina Loy. The authors argue that these women not only created literature that challenged traditional norms but also shaped the modernist movement through their individualistic approaches and bold exploration of new forms. The book emphasises the interconnectedness among these women, who often resided in Paris and formed a supportive network. They wrote to and about one another, reviewed each other's works, and provided financial support, demonstrating a mutual dedication to their art and each other. The essence of modernism for these women was the notion that art and life were inseparable; their literary pursuits were deeply intertwined with their personal experiences. Many members of this group defied conventional expectations of femininity, with some identifying as lesbian or bisexual, further distancing themselves from patriarchal norms. Hanscombe and Smyers detail how Dorothy Richardson sought to create a distinctly "female" novel, feeling that contemporary literature predominantly focused on male experiences. Her pioneering work, "Pointed Roofs," published in 1915 as part of the "Pilgrimage" sequence, featured innovative narrative styles that departed from the conventions of the time, blending fiction with autobiography. Other authors like H.D. also experimented with free verse in their poetry, capturing reality from a subjective perspective. Harriet Shaw Weaver and her publication "The New Freewoman" provided a platform for avant-garde writers, including James Joyce, amplifying their voices when mainstream society remained resistant. While the authors' exploration of these women's biographies fills critical gaps in the history of modernist literature, some generalisations they make regarding the motivations of artistic versus political writers may be debated. They propose that women seeking to transcend traditional roles must live differently, and that artistic endeavours may not intentionally aim for social change, despite the two being often intertwined. Overall, "Writing For Their Lives" serves as an important scholarly work, shedding light on a previously underexplored dimension of literary history. While it may not be a light read, it holds significance for those studying English literature, offering crucial insights into the contributions of these modernist women and challenging traditional narratives that have predominantly celebrated male authors.

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