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The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women

The Traditions in English, Volumes 1 & 2

Long the standard teaching anthology, the landmark Norton Anthology of Literature by Women has introduced generations of readers to the rich variety of women’s writing in English.

Now, the much-anticipated Third Edition responds to the wealth of writing by women across the globe with the inclusion of 61 new authors (219 in all) whose diverse works span six centuries. A more flexible two-volume format and a versatile new companion reader make the Third Edition an even better teaching tool.

14 Complete Longer Works

For instructors concerned about the cost of individual works, the Third Edition continues to provide “a course in a book” and, as such, an unbeatable value to students. Among the 14 complete longer works are Aphra Behn’s Oroonoko, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, and 5 new selections Margaret Edson’s Wit, Nella Larsen’s Quicksand, Elizabeth Gaskell’s “The Old Nurse’s Story,” and Marie de France’s “Bisclavret” and “Yönec,” in Dorothy Gilbert’s fresh verse translations.

A Global Perspective

Thirty new authors dramatically extend and deepen the coverage of English-language women writers worldwide, from the aboriginal Australian poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker) to the Indian American fiction writer Jhumpa Lahiri to the British writer of lesbian fiction Jeanette Winterson, among dozens of others. Likewise, the representation of American writers of diverse racial, ethnic, and regional origins—new writers include Julia Alvarez, Sandra Cisneros, Joy Harjo, and Gish Jen—has been greatly strengthened. This geographic diversity is matched by a greater variety of genres, among them science fiction, experimental poetry, and literary criticism.

Strengthened Classic Writers

The Third Edition has expanded and reconfigured representation of such central figures as Anne Bradstreet, Frances Burney, Emily Dickinson (whose poems are now those of the Franklin edition), Dorothy Wordsworth, Elizabeth Gaskell, George Eliot, Frances E. W. Harper, Louisa May Alcott, Jean Rhys, Grace Paley, Gwendolyn Brooks, Nadine Gordimer, Adrienne Rich, and Rita Dove. In many cases, selections have been tailored to more directly “speak to each other” on key issues such as education, economics, race relations, and the writing life, about which women have spoken powerfully for centuries.

Updated Apparatus; A More Readable Page; New Endpaper Maps

The period introductions, headnotes, annotations, and bibliographies have been updated and fine-tuned. A new, bolder typeface and heavier paper stock make for a more readable page. New endpaper maps highlighting places of importance to North American Women Writers, Women Writers of the British Isles, and Women Writers in English Worldwide provide useful references for students.

Flexible New Format

Now in two paperback volumes, the Third Edition can serve a variety of courses organized by period or topic, at levels from introductory to advanced. Instructors will appreciate the added flexibility, while students will welcome the new portability.