Autobiography
Autobiography by Harriet Martineau, published by Broadview Press on December 21, 2006, is a comprehensive account of the author’s remarkable literary journey. Spanning 744 pages, this edition reproduces the original 1877 text that Martineau composed in 1855, reflecting on her life as a reviewer and journalist during the 1820s, her rise to fame through her series Illustrations of Political Economy, and her significant contributions to sociology. The narrative also highlights her experiences traveling through the United States and her commentary on various societal issues during a time when women’s roles were largely confined to domestic spheres.
Readers will find a detailed exploration of Martineau’s life, including her overcoming a hearing disability and her active engagement in political discourse, particularly regarding slavery during the American Civil War. This edition features illustrations of Martineau and her homes, along with excerpts from the “Memorials” added by her editor, Maria Chapman. The book provides insights into the challenges and achievements of a Victorian woman of letters, making it a significant work within the realms of biography and autobiography, as well as historical and literary studies.
Official synopsis Publisher
Harriet Martineau lived an extraordinary literary life. She became a reviewer and journalist in the 1820s when her family’s fortune collapsed; published a best-selling series, Illustrations of Political Economy (1832-34), that made her fame and fortune by the age of thirty; overcame a hearing disability to become a “literary lion” in London society; toured the United States and wrote two founding texts of sociology based on her experiences; explored north Africa and the Middle East to observe non-European societies; wrote “leaders” (editorials) on slavery for the London Daily News during the American Civil War; and commented publicly on matters of politics, history, and religion in an era when women supposedly maintained their place in the sphere of domesticity.
This edition of her Autobiography reproduces the original 1877 text, which Martineau composed in 1855 and had printed in anticipation of her death. It includes illustrations of the author and her homes; excerpts from the “Memorials,” added by her editor Maria Chapman; and reviews that praise and critique Martineau’s method as an autobiographer and achievement as a Victorian woman of letters.
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