Autobiography

“Words like ‘extraordinary’ and ‘remarkable’ are not misplaced in describing Harriet Martineau’s Autobiography. Controversial throughout her life, she is, in Linda Peterson’s words, ‘a superb storyteller,’ recounting all that happened to her with outspoken directness. In a field dominated by male practitioners, Martineau's uncompromising account of her life, relationships, travels, and illnesses deserves much wider recognition. In this first comprehensively annotated edition of the text since it was originally published in 1877, readers can fully appreciate what made Martineau a compelling teller of her own tale.” — Valerie R. Sanders, University of Hull

“Harriet Martineau’s Autobiography is something much more complex than a conventional autobiography. Martineau’s long and elaborate work was self-consciously written in a hybrid form to offer advice and support for many areas of Victorian women’s experience. It considers the spiritual life, illness, education and, most powerfully of all, professional journalism as a way of life. It is an important book, less well known than it should be. This attractive and scrupulously, but unobtrusively, annotated edition by a leading scholar of Victorian women’s life writing brings a major text within reach of all those interested in Victorian women and their public and private lives.” — Brian Maidment, University of Salford