Madam Britannia Women, Church, and Nation 1712-1812

Using Britannia as a central figure, this book explores the neglected relationship between women, church, and nation. It argues that Britannia became established as an emblem of nation from 1688 and gained in importance over the following century. It draws on an exciting range of material to explore the extent and significance of women's involvement in debates about the new British nation and the Church of England. Discussing a wide range of printed sources,including letters, poetry, novels, plays, journals, sermons, devotional literature, political tracts, and travel writing, it also uses manuscript sources and frontspieces, paintings, drawings, and graphicsatire to bring to life debates about identity, faith, and nation. Writers discussed include Elizabeth Burnet, Elizabeth Carter, Catherine Talbot, Samuel Richardson, Thomas Amory, Samuel Foote, Elizabeth Montagu, Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi, Anna Laetitia Barbauld, Hannah More, along with images by William Hogarth, John Flaxman, Francis Hayman, James Gillray, and the Cruikshanks.