Excerpt from Noble Deeds of Woman, or Examples of Female Courage and Virtue The pleasure experienced by the Author in perusing the scattered records of female excellence gave rise to the idea that an interesting selection might be made from them, and prove not only instructive but useful. The acknowledged superiority of example over precept con firmed this Opinion; and the ensuing narratives have been chosen as most suitable to the various conditions and trials of life. Woman, to whose fostering care the direction of infancy is intrusted, - to whom manhood is indebted for mental recreations and for consolation in difficulties, upon whom also man, in declining yea'rs, depends for solace and support, - too often betrays her incapacity to fulfil the important duties she is called upon to under take. When thus circumstanced, she frequently fails in the performance of a mother's tender obligations, and she not only loses the affections, but sinks in the estima tion, of her husband - or, immersed in the dissipations of society, she neglects to attend to those more sacred offices on which even her own happiness depends. To the just fulfilment of these, it is necessary she should think, feel, and act correctly; yet this cannot be expected, while the ornamental accomplishments, now cultivated with so much care, are allowed to supersede the more valuable acquirements. Painting, music, and dancing. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This A-Z reference work provides the first comprehensive reference guide to the wide range of historical writing with which women have been involved, particularly since the Renaissance. The Companion covers biographical writing, travelogue and historical fictions, broadening the concept of history to include the forms of writing with which women have historically engaged. The focus is on women writing in English internationally, but historical and historiographical traditions from beyond the English-speaking world are also examined. Brief biographies of individual writers are included.