Books that Feature the Theme of Femininity

This thematic Collection highlights Books that Feature the Theme of Femininity. Through novels, plays, and works of nonfiction, the selections in this Collection explore the feminine experience in a variety of historical settings and cultures as they examine topics such as gender roles, feminism, and what it means to be feminine.

Publication year 2024

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government


Publication year 1911

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Journalism

Henry Sydnor Harrison’s murder mystery “Miss Hinch” is a short story that debuted in McClure’s Magazine in 1911. Harrison was an American novelist, short story author, and journalist from Sewanee, Tennessee, who was born in 1880. The story follows two crafty women through chilly New York streets. Gossip about Miss Hinch, an actress-turned-murderess, pulses through the city as she remains on the run. She uses her skill with costume to evade capture while being chased... Read Miss Hinch Summary


Publication year 1888

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Play: Drama, Naturalism, Scandinavian Literature, Class, Education, Education, Drama / Tragedy, History: World, Classic Fiction

Miss Julie is a naturalistic play produced in 1888 by the Swedish playwright and novelist August Strindberg. The play follows the acute romantic entanglement of the three characters: Miss Julie, a young aristocratic woman; Jean, her father’s well-read and well-traveled valet; and Kristine, the cook. Through the psychological battle of wills between Julie and the ruthless Jean, the play explores themes of Class Conflict and Social Hierarchy, Gender Roles and Power Dynamics, and The Complexity... Read Miss Julie Summary


Publication year 1722

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Identity: Gender

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, British Literature, History: World

Published in 1722, The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe tells the life story of a woman who carves her own path through late 17th-century England and North America. Like Defoe’s first novel, Robinson Crusoe, this work also tells the tale of a singular individual who overcomes adversity—in her case, extreme poverty—to become considerably wealthy. Moll Flanders is a wife, a thief, a sex worker, and an impresario. She is... Read Moll Flanders Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race

Tags Arts / Culture, Gender / Feminism, Philosophy


Publication year 1987

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, British Literature, Military / War, History: World, Classic Fiction

Penelope Lively’s 1987 novel Moon Tiger is a work of historical fiction. Set primarily in England and Egypt during the 20th century, the novel is a frame story that joins protagonist Claudia Hampton on her deathbed as she reflects on the relationships, memories, and historical forces that shaped her life. The author was awarded the 1987 Booker Prize for the novel. Moon Tiger explores the subjective nature of memory, the difference between lived and linear... Read Moon Tiger Summary


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Beauty

Tags Historical Fiction, Class, Race / Racism


Publication year 1901

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Femininity

Tags Historical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Romance, History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fame

Tags History: U.S., History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, American Revolution, Politics / Government


Publication year 1987

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Identity: Race, Identity: Femininity

Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism


Publication year 1956

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Identity: Femininity, Society: Economics, Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride

Tags Humor, Drama / Tragedy, Historical Fiction, Music, Romance, Classic Fiction, Play: Comedy / Satire

My Fair Lady, a musical by Alan Jay Lerner (book and lyrics) and Frederick Loewe (music), opened on Broadway to tremendous critical and popular success in 1956, starring Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews as Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle. Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s popular play Pygmalion (1914) and inspired by the Greek myth of “Pygmalion and Galatea,” the musical takes place in early-20th-century London, satirizing issues of class hierarchies, gender disparity, and how language... Read My Fair Lady Summary


Publication year 2004

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Gender, Identity: Femininity, Society: Immigration, Self Discovery

Tags Immigration / Refugee


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance, French Literature


Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Jewish Literature, History: World, Biography, Music, Inspirational


Publication year 1880

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Love / Sexuality, Realism, Realistic Fiction, Naturalism, Class, History: European, French Literature


Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Education, Society: Nation

Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, Gender / Feminism, Post-War Era, Southern Literature, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World, Biography


Publication year 1966

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Fame, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Gender

Tags Lyric Poem, Arts / Culture, Gender / Feminism, American Literature, Confessional


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Romance, Fantasy, Mythology, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2015

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Latin American Literature, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

Night at the Fiestas is a 2015 story collection by New Mexican author Kirstin Valdez Quade. The collection won the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Award, and after its publication, Valdez Quade was recognized as a “Top 5 Writer Under 35” by the National Book Foundation. In 2021, Valdez Quade revised one of the stories, “The Five Wounds” into an award-winning novel of the same title, establishing herself as an important new voice in... Read Night at the Fiestas Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction