Memoirs of Modern PhilosophersWhen the Anti-Jacobin Review described Memoirs of Modern Philosophers in 1800 as “the first novel of the day” and as proof that “all the female writers of the day are not corrupted by the voluptuous dogmas of Mary Godwin, or her more profligate imitators,” they clearly situated Elizabeth Hamilton’s work within the revolutionary debate of the 1790s. As with her successful first novel, Letters of a Hindoo Rajah, Hamilton uses fiction to enter the political fray and discuss issues such as female education, the rights of woman and new philosophy. The novel follows the plight of three heroines. The mock heroine, Bridgetina Botherim—a crude caricature of Mary Hays—participates in an English-Jacobin group, leading her to abandon her mother and home to pursue her beloved to London in hopes of emigrating to the Hottentots in Africa. The second heroine, Julia Delmont, is another member of the local group; she is seduced by a hairdresser masquerading as a New Philosopher. She is left pregnant and destitute only to discover that her actions caused her father’s untimely death. The third heroine is the virtuous Harriet, whose Christian faith enables her to resist the teachings of the New Philosophers. |
From inside the book
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... tion and in opposition to English Jacobins such as Wollstonecraft , Hamil- ton was actually a liberal writer who sits midway between these two polit- ical extremes . Clearly her satirical rendering of " Modern Philosophers " distances ...
... tion of Imperial administration in the East . The promotion of intellectual studies of the Orient formed a major part of this project . who turned to writing to express her love and respect MEMOIRS OF MODERN PHILOSOPHERS 13.
... tion of older women who also manifest various skills and / or foibles . Hamilton depicts strikingly independent , confident and intelligent women through Mrs. Martha Goodwin and Mrs. Fielding , both of whom highlight the possibility of ...
... tion as a philosophic , moral and religious author , are of a higher sort , and rest upon works of a more solid and durable nature .... She does not aim at making women expert in the wordy war ; nor does she teach them to astonish the ...
... tion appeared before the end of the year and a third early in 1801. The only substantive change between the first and subsequent editions is the advertisement in the third edition revealing Hamilton as the author ( reproduced here ) . A ...
Contents
6 | |
27 | |
Contemporary Works | 391 |
The Hottentots | 401 |
Reviews of Memoirs of Modern Philosophers | 407 |
Select Bibliography | 415 |