http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/1183370280

Femininity, crime and self-defence in Victorian literature and society : from dagger-fans to suffragettes

The topic of women and danger has long fascinated historians. This book innovatively situates both well-known and more obscure themes within the cultural context of the development of self-defence for ladies during the period from circa 1850 to 1914. Elizabeth Robins, Mona Caird and Anne Bronte considered the role of physiognomy in spotting rogue suitors, the nature of feminine anger and the dangers inside and outside the home. H.G. Wells's controversial novel, "Ann Veronica" (1909), is refreshingly re-examined as a testament to the growth of women's sports while the accompanying proliferation of women's martial arts classes was promoted by Edith Garrud, the trainer for the suffragette Bodyguard. Richard Marsh's detective, Judith Lee, a lip-reader and jujitsu practitioner, has been likened to Sherlock Holmes; her encounters with the Edwardian criminal underworld are explored here. Emelyne Godfrey introduces major themes in this area, showcasing a wealth of literary sources, artefacts and archival documents.

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