Why read A Life of Propriety?

Book cover of A Life of Propriety: Anne Murray Powell and Her Family, 1755-1849

Book description

During this period the realms of the public and the private became increasingly separated, with increasingly separate roles for men and women. Changes in cultural values concerning gender, ideals about family relationships, and ideas of the appropriate role women brought uncertainty, confusion, and contradiction. Anne Powell's life embodied this shift…

Explore

Topics

Toronto

Genres

History

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked A Life of Propriety as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Ann Birch

Author

Most of the information on Anne Powell’s life is written by men. They invariably find her to be eccentric, bizarre, or crazy. That’s why I was pleased to discover this book by a female professor. It contains detailed, well-researched information on the Powell family and the world they lived in. The book also directed me to useful letters written by the Powell family that I was able to research in the local archives. From this book and those letters, I was able to discover a new Anne Powell.

From Ann's list on The best books about brave women who dared to challenge the narrow norms of the society they lived in.