Catherine Helen Spence was a charismatic public speaker in the late nineteenth century, a time when women were supposed to speak only at their own firesides. She was carving a new path into the world of public politics along which other women would follow, in the first Australian colony to win votes for women.

This four volume collection of primary sources examines literary and cultural criticism over the long nineteenth century. The volumes explore the subjects of life-writing, including biography, autobiography, diaries, and letters, drama criticism, the periodical and newspaper press, and criticism written by women. This collection will be of great interest to students of literary history.

Biography of successful Australian novelist, who published under the name 'Maud Jeanne Franc'. Discusses her life in South Australia and provides detailed analyses of her writings. Includes an annotated bibliography of her work, a list of the writings of her brother, Henry John Congreve, and an index. The author is an English teacher whose other publications include 'The Narrators Voice: The Dilemma of Children's Fiction'.