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 1791
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, American Literature
Charlotte Temple: A Tale of Truth, written by Susanna Rowson (1762-1824) and published in 1791, is a cautionary Sentimentalist novel about Charlotte Temple, an upper-middle-class 15-year-old girl living in England. She leaves her family and home to follow a soldier, who promises to marry her, to the United States. However, Charlotte is betrayed by her companions, which leads to her untimely death. Although the novel did not perform well when originally published in England, the... Read Charlotte Temple: A Tale of Truth Summary
Publication year 1983
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction
Publication year 1981
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Magical Realism, Latin American Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction
Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a 1981 novella by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez. Told in non-chronological order and in journalistic fashion by an unnamed narrator, it pieces together the events leading up to and after the murder of Santiago Nasar by Pedro and Pablo Vicario. Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a classic example of Márquez's use of magical realism in his writing. The novella has been adapted several times as a film... Read Chronicle of a Death Foretold Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ, Fairy Tale / Folklore
Publication year 2010
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: War
Tags History: World, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Biography
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Mythology, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, History: World
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Identity: Femininity
Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Romance, Military / War, History: World, French Literature
Publication year 2015
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Joy
Tags Gender / Feminism, Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Relationships, Self Help, Love / Sexuality, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Psychology, Psychology
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Romance, Holidays & Occasions
Publication year 2002
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Midlife, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Feminist Theory, Gender Studies, Self Help, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Philosophy, Relationships, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Midlife
Tags Japanese Literature, Relationships, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Society: Politics & Government, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Romance, LGBTQ, Irish Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Conversations with Friends is Irish writer Sally Rooney’s debut novel, published in 2017. Rooney wrote the novel when she was 25 and followed it up quickly with Normal People in 2018 and Beautiful World, Where Are You in 2021. All three works have garnered award nominations and the first two have been adapted into television series. Conversations with Friends tells the story of Frances and Bobbi— college students, best friends, and former girlfriends—and Nick and... Read Conversations with Friends Summary
Publication year 1623
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Classic Fiction, British Literature, Play: Comedy / Satire, Romance
Cymbeline is a play by William Shakespeare. Its first recorded performance was in 1611, and it was published in the First Folio in 1623. Some scholars have posited that sections may have been written collaboratively. The play is loosely inspired by accounts of the historical British king Cunobeline, but also draws on other sources. It has never been considered a history play, reflecting the looseness of this connection.Cymbeline is king of ancient Britain. His sons... Read Cymbeline Summary
Publication year 1878
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Community
Tags Classic Fiction, Romance, Victorian Period, Education, Education, American Literature, History: World
Daisy Miller is a novella by Henry James, first published in Cornhill Magazine in 1878 and in book form a year later. This short piece of fiction explores the differences in class and social expectations in America and Europe, especially for young women just before the turn of the 20th century. James was a member of a prominent and wealthy American family; his education and travels to England and continental Europe allowed him to gain... Read Daisy Miller Summary
Publication year 1782
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Sexuality
Tags Classic Fiction, French Literature, Historical Fiction, Romance, Love / Sexuality
Dangerous Liaisons is an epistolary novel (i.e., a story told through a series of letters) first published in 1782, seven years before the start of the French Revolution, by Pierre-Ambroise-François Choderlos de Laclos. The story revolves around the scheming and manipulative activities of two aristocrats, the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont. They take pleasure in seducing and ruining the reputations of others, using their wit and charm to manipulate those around them... Read Dangerous Liaisons Summary
Publication year 1998
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Identity: Femininity
Tags Latin American Literature, Historical Fiction, Love / Sexuality, History: World, Magical Realism, Romance
Daughter of Fortune, first published in Spanish in 1998 (Hija de la fortuna), is the fifth novel by celebrated Latin American writer Isabel Allende. The winner of multiple awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Chile’s National Literature Prize, Allende created this work of historical fiction, in part, to explore the impact of feminism on her own life. Daughter of Fortune tells the story of a young woman, Eliza Sommers, and her odyssey of... Read Daughter Of Fortune Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Self Discovery
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags History: World
Publication year 1990
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Humor, Fairy Tale / Folklore
Publication year 2017
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Gender
Tags Gender / Feminism, Parenting, Social Justice, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)