A Biographical Encyclopedia of Early Modern Englishwomen Exemplary Lives and Memorable Acts, 1500-1650

From the exemplary to the notorious to the obscure, this comprehensive and innovative encyclopedia showcases the worthy women of early modern England. Poets, princesses, or pirates, the women of power and agency found in these pages are indeed worth knowing, and this volume will introduce many female figures to even the most established scholars in early modern studies. Rather than using the conventional alphabetical format of the standard biographical encyclopedia, this volume is divided into categories of women. Since many women will fit in more than one category, each woman is placed in the category that best exemplifies her life, and is cross referenced in other appropriate sections. This structure makes the book an interesting read for seasoned scholars of early modern women, while students need not already be familiar with these subjects in order to benefit from the text. Another unusual feature of this reference work is that each entry begins with some incident from the woman’s life that is particularly exciting or significant. Some entries are very brief while others are extensive. Each includes a source listing. The book is well illustrated and liberally sprinkled with quotations of the time either by or about the women in the text.

TABLE OF CONTENTSLIST OF ILLUSTRATIONSPREFACEACKNOWLEDGMENTS1. ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, AND ENTERTAINERS Beale, Mary Cradock BealeHorenbout, Susanna Horenbout [Horenbolte] Parker GilmanInglis, Esther Inglis KelloJane the FoolPerwich, Susanna PerwichTeerlinc, Levina Benninck TeerlincThomasina2. CRIMINALSAbbott, Elizabeth AbbottArden, Alice ArdenBarnes, Elizabeth BarnesBaynton, Mary BayntonBridgestone, Ann BridgestoneBrigge, Mabel BriggeBulmer, Margaret Cheyne BulmerCaldwell, Elizabeth CaldwellChamber, Rebecca ChamberChampion, Mary ChampionClarke, Alice ClarkeCowland, Alice CowlandCrofte, Elizabeth CrofteDavis, Alice DavisDavy, Margaret Davy [Davie]Dell, Annis DellDownes, Katherine Stamfort DownesDrewry, Anne Drewry [Drewie, Calfield]Evans, Elizabeth Evans ["Canberry Bess"]Ferneseede, Margaret FerneseedeFerrers, Katherine Ferrers FanshaweFrancis, Katherine FrancisFrith, Mary Frith ["Moll Cutpurse"]Greene, Anne GreeneGunter, Anne GunterHamton, Anne Hamton Hattersley, Jane HattersleyHayward, Petronella Brightred HaywardHelliker, Joan HellikerHoward, Frances Howard Devereux Carr, Countess of Essex and SomersetHungerford, Agnes Cotell Hungerford Lake, Mary Ryder LakeOsborne, Mary OsbornePage, Eulalia Glanfield PagePendleton, Ellen Pendleton FloderPhelps, Judith PhelpsRodney, Anne Lake Cecil Rodney, Lady RosSaunders, Anne SaundersScambler, Martha ScamblerThrockmorton, Frances Brydges ThrockmortonTurner, Ann Norton TurnerVincent, Margaret VincentWallen, Anne Wallen<

Carole Levin is Willa Cather Professor of History and Director of the Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program at the University of Nebraska, USA.Anna Riehl Bertolet is Associate Professor of English at Auburn University, USA.Jo Eldridge Carney is Professor of English at The College of New Jersey, USA.