Women in the Literary Landscape: A Centennial Publication of the Women’s National Book Association

In 2017, the centennial publication was published.  This groundbreaking work provides a narrative which provides the historical connection of American women’s significant contributions in the literary community and the book world, within the fields of writing, publishing, bookselling, and librarianship,  alongside important social history and the history of each chapter in the Women’s National Book Association.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

​​Chapter 1: Women, Literary Pursuits, and the Book World exploring the role of women’s involvement in the literary community by women’s history expert Doris Weatherford and Rosalind Reisner.

• Chapter 2: Bookselling Then and Now, featuring WNBA co-founder Madge Jenison’s 1926 article with reflections from contemporary bookseller, Joyce Meskis.

• Chapter 3: From the Archives, by Nancy Rubin Stuart, exploring some of the more evocative details in our rich historical record.

• Chapter 4: Supporting Literature and Literacy, highlighting WNBA’s programming, including our UN affiliation, the WNBA Award, Pannell Award, National Reading Group Month/Great Group Reads, and the Annual Writing Contest.

• Chapter 5: Chapter Histories, a compilation of the organizations different chapters with highlights from their history

• Appendices, including list of WNBA Award winners, Pannell Award winners, list of national presidents, and more.

C&R Press – buy a copy

Bookshop – buy a copy

Packhorse Libraian in Kentucky

Packhorse librarians brought books to isolated communities in Kentucky during the Great Depression. c. University of Kentucky Libraries

NYC 1917 suffrage parade

1917 NYC suffrage parade where book women met & organized to form WNBA

Sunwise Turn Bookshop

Sunwise Turn Bookshop, NYC, co-owned by WNBA co-founder Madge Jenison & Mary Horgan Mowbray-Clarke. c. NeglectedBooks.com

“Brilliantly written and researched . . . . every page is filled with surprises, enchantments, and exciting new information of significance.”
–From the foreword by Blanche Wiesen Cook, biographer of Eleanor Roosevelt

“I felt enormously proud as I read this book. It’s well-written and wonderfully researched and it made my heart sing. Reading about the ways women have been part of our literary heritage from the beginning was fascinating and inspiriting. It made me realize how brave and determined these women were, how energetic, how indefatigable . . .Brava to women booksellers, and to all the other women who have been so invaluable to the culture of books in this country. And brava to the WNBA for producing this marvelous volume.”
–Roxana Robinson, author (Sparta, 2014) and former head of Author’s Guild

“​The American world of books would have been poor indeed without the many significant contributions women have made throughout our country’s relatively short history. It is so good to have them gathered together and brought to life in this excellent book. Congratulations to WNBA, and may this vital organization flourish and prosper for at least another hundred years!”
–Deirdre Bair, biographer Simone de Beauvoir, Samuel Beckett, and others

“Literary researchers will find a treasure trove of material here.”
-Publishers Weekly, March 2018

Here is a remarkable story of women’s role in literary America which amounts to a hidden history. There is still so much to learn about the contributions of women to our culture and this tells of women in publishing, bookselling, libraries, magazines, zines, self-publishing as writers and in every aspect of literature. Do youself a favor and buy one for yourself and one to give to a young woman as an inspiring gift. We are all standing on the shoulders of giants. Here’s to the next 100 years of women in the literary landscape!
–Lady Librarian reviewer, Amazon.com