JOURNAL ARTICLE

Precarious and Fatiguing: Elizabeth Elstob and Women's Intellectual Careers as Tragedy.

  • Published In: English: The Journal of the English Association, 2024, v. 73, n. 282. P. 125 1 of 3

  • Database: Humanities Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Simonova, Natasha 3 of 3

Abstract

This article focuses on the life and legacy of Elizabeth Elstob (1683–1756), an eighteenth-century Anglo-Saxonist recognized as a pioneering female scholar in Old English studies and a foundational figure in the discipline of English. It examines Elstob's scholarly achievements, including her editions and translations of Old English texts, alongside the financial hardships and social constraints that curtailed her intellectual career, forcing her into teaching and later a governess role. The article also explores how Elstob's life has been historically narrated as a tragic example of the challenges faced by learned women, highlighting the tension between intellectual work and domestic expectations. Furthermore, it considers the ongoing precarity of women's academic careers by drawing parallels between Elstob's experiences and contemporary issues in academia.

Additional Information

  • Source:English: The Journal of the English Association. 2024/09, Vol. 73, Issue 282, p125
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Literature and Writing
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:00138215
  • DOI:10.1093/english/efae021
  • Accession Number:184349381
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of English: The Journal of the English Association is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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