Women of Words: A Personal Introduction to Forty-Five Important Writers Second Edition

Is your best friend, sister, mother, wife, and/or daughter a literary soul? Is reading her favorite pastime? Are books her favorite possessions? Or are you the person described above? If so, look no further. Here is a gem of a book that makes a perfect gift for any occasion."Women of Words," the expanded second edition, (209 pages; 2002), provides a wonderful portrait of forty-three great women writers. The brief bios and excerpts from each author's work are very well written, but it is their pastel portraits, Jenny Powell's brilliant illustrations, that makes this such a special book. This hard cover, coffee table edition is beautifully presented.The authors include: Jane Austen, Emily Dickenson, Edith Wharton, Dorothy Parker, Eudora Welty, Joyce Carol Oates, Flannery O'Conner, Edith Sitwell, Jean Rhys - the list goes on, and the selection is extraordinary.Look for the expanded second edition of "Women of Words." It includes 43 women writers, (more is better in this case). Although the 1st edition contains only 35 writers, it is still a wonderful book. And a P.S. here - this book is a good choice for literary men also.

A beautiful coffee table book that is worthy of being read by anyone who likes literature and literary figures, and especially by those who admire women of rare talent who have succeeded, often against high odds, in getting women's words heeded. It is interesting to note the birth/death dates under each of the 35 names. In the 1700s and throughout most of the 1800s they died tragically young by today's standards. Only in this century has one lived into her 90s. Not designed to be comprehensive; the choices are admirable.

These thirty-five authors are unique writers and women. Short bios are accompanied with selections from their best-known works. Great way to "taste" author's style. Marvelous original portraits of each add greatly to beauty of the book.