Description: This book articulates philosophical concerns in the work of five well known twentieth century women writers, including writers of color. Duran traces the development of philosophical themes - ontological, ethical and feminist - in the writings of Margaret Drabble, Virginia Woolf, Simone de Beauvior, Toni Cade Bambara and Elena Poniatowska presenting both a general overview of the author's work with an emphasis on traditional philosophical questions and a detailed feminist reading of the work.
Review Quotes: 'Jane Duran's stimulating book uniquely brings together five women authors simultaneously through the lenses of philosophy, feminism and literature. Her book problematizes the ancient struggle between philosophy and literature through a contemporary, feminist philosophical reading of these authors. Duran's book thus reads against the grain of both contemporary literary theory and philosophical accounts of literature. In addition to these provocations, Duran brings together two women of color, Toni Cade Bambara and Elena Piniatowski, along with feminist standbys Woolf and Beauvoir, and the less often philosophically read author, Margaret Drabble. In doing so, she provides a productive interrogation of standard feminist readings of literary philosophers. The result will be of interest to philosophers, feminists, and literary theorists.' Ann E. Cudd, University of Kansas, USA.