Introduction Dale Bauer and Philip Gould; Part I. Historical and Theoretical Backgrounds: 1. The post colonial culture of early American women's writing Rosemarie Zagarri; 2. Women in public Dana Nelson; 3. Antebellum politics and women's writing Stephanie Smith; Part II. Genre, Tradition and Innovation: 4. Captivity and the literary imagination Kathryn Zabelle Derounian-Stodola; 5. Nineteenth-century American women's poetry Elizabeth Petrino; 6. Women at war Shirley Samuels; 7. Women, anti-Catholicism, and narrative in nineteenth-century America Susan Griffin; 8. Immigration and assimilation in nineteenth-century American women's writing Priscilla Wald; Part III. Case Studies: 9. The uses of writing in Margaret Bayard Smith's New Nation Frederika Teute; 10. The sentimental novel: the example of Harriet Beecher Stowe Gail Smith; 11. African-American women's spiritual narratives Yolanda Pierce; 12. The post-bellum writing of Rebecca Harding Davis and Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Lisa Long; 13. Elizabeth Stoddard's The Morgesons Sandra Zagarell; 14. Minnie's Sacrifice: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper's narrative of citizenship Jasmine Griffin; Conclusion Mary Kelley.