Includes bibliographical references and index.

LITERARY STUDIES: GENERAL. This lively book tells a story never told before: the complete history of women readers and the controversies their reading has inspired since the beginning of the written word. Belinda Jack's groundbreaking volume travels from the Cro-Magnon cave to the digital bookstores of our time, exploring how and what women have read through the ages and across cultures and civilizations. Jack traces a history marked by persistent efforts to prevent women from gaining literacy and to censor their reading. She also recounts the counter efforts of remarkable women - and some men - who have fought back and battled for the educational enfranchisement of girls.

Primitives, goddesses and aristocrats -- Reading in the not-so-dark ages -- History, mystery and copying -- Outside the cloister -- 'To reade such bookes...my selfe to edyfye' -- Competing for attention -- Answering back -- Books of their own -- Nation-building -- The modern woman reader.