In spite of the nearly insurmountable barriers that have stood in the way of female authors throughout history, ranging from denial of rights in the workplace to rejection from editors, women have emerged as pioneers in a wide variety of literary genres. While it has become increasingly common to see women’s names on book covers, the journey they’ve taken to get there can be traced back hundreds of years.

In the 1800s, women became more influential in literature for writing about topics that were mostly viewed as taboo, such as marriage, sexuality, social structure, suicide, adultery, and infidelity. The presence of these themes demonstrated the willingness of women to challenge what was considered “normal” to write about.  One text that contributed greatly to this new movement was Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening,” which drew from her past experience of being a young bride and businesswoman in Louisiana. The book was very controversial at the time for its frankness about sexuality. It was banned for over fifty years, returning to shelves as the portrayal of independent women became more widely accepted. It also heavily influenced women’s ambitions at the time as they realized the breadth of opportunities available to them.  It also allowed them to be more open about the many issues they faced in marriage. Jane Austen also made some substantial contributions to literature during the 19th century; notable novels of Austen’s include “Sense and Sensibility,” which tells of three girls coming of age, “Pride and Prejudice,” which uses its protagonist to teach the importance of true human decency over the superficial, and “Emma,” which depicts the nuances of the relationships intertwining several families. At the time these works were published, they did not gain the popularity they have today. But some years after her death, her works were republished in Richard Bentley’s Standard Novels series, making her a prominent author of the 19th century. Her works remain relevant and are still read today. In fact, her novel Emma later ended up inspiring the blockbuster 1995 teen comedy “Clueless.” Emily Brontë of the Brontë sisters also made a great contribution to 19th century literature with her novel “Wuthering Heights.” The novel told of love that transcended class limits and societal values, with supernatural elements that made the plot easier to stomach. The many horrors in the story bewildered and impressed readers at the time, and Emily’s expression of the disorder in the world was met with a more positive response later on.

The 20th century contains some of the most impressive and world-changing developments, from the Roaring Twenties to the invention of the internet, resulting in the creation of a wide range of literature. L.M. Montgomery’s “Anne of Green Gables,” set on Prince Edward Island, used details from Montgomery’s own life to spin a tale of the childhood of a young orphaned girl. Montgomery was inspired to write after her mother died and her father deserted her when she was a child. Anne’s innocent nature combined with the beautiful and quaint setting made “Anne of Green Gables” a must-read for children everywhere. Montgomery eventually became the first Canadian woman in history to be inducted into the British Royal Society of the Arts. While Montgomery reflected the somewhat whimsical attitude of literature early in the century, women such as Agatha Christie popularized murder mysteries. While murder mysteries were first brought about by Edgar Allen Poe, certain books of Christie’s caused the genre to skyrocket in popularity in the 1930s. “Murder on the Orient Express,” for instance, has gone down in history as the quintessential murder mystery, filled with perfectly placed misdirections, shady characters, and just enough detail to make looking away impossible for a reader. Christie used the book to define some of the most well-known tropes of mystery novels, especially the use of an exciting final accusation. The charming and witty Hercule Poirot was written and developed by Christie in such a way that the names will forever go together. Christie has gone down in history as the best-selling novelist, outsold only by Shakespeare and the Bible. Towards the end of the century, Toni Morrison, a pioneer of the Black Arts Movement, helped reinvent the major themes of literature such as purity, love, and peace with God. These themes in her novels were uniquely written so that they reflected the Black community as well as other underrepresented groups. Her work is now incorporated into school curriculums, making her a household name among students. With books like “Song of Solomon,” she wrote about the Black experience in America in a way that allowed everyone to empathize with it. Morrison eventually became the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize for literature, and she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. 

Present-day literature features several female authors, and more continue to emerge on the scene. Donna Tartt’s “The Goldfinch” is special in how it preserves the very poetic writing style of the 20th and 19th centuries while also adding more contemporary themes. The novel draws from the joy that art and paintings can bring to their audience, a theme that could possiblyperhaps come off as dated in today’s digital age. However, Tartt portrays young Theodore Decker as using art as a refuge, a coping mechanism that resonates with people from all generations. A total contrast to Tartt’s methods, authors like Celeste Ng have taken their place in the young adult genre. Known for younger characters and less abstract storylines, young adult novels have become increasingly popular for high schoolers. When the genre first emerged, distinct tropes were created that quickly grew boring and overused. However, Ng’s “Little Fires Everywhere” toes the line between YA and adult fiction and combines an exciting murder mystery with subtle commentary on American classism and racism. While social issues being presented as literary themes has never been a new concept, Ng has brought certain “uncomfortable” topics to younger audiences, forcing them to confront their own biases. Another author with similar aims is Jacqueline Woodson, writer of “Brown Girl Dreaming.” With this book, Woodson goes even younger than the YA genre and writes for elementary and middle school students. Woodson’s work focuses on the experience of being a young Black girl in America and the internal conflicts she faced as a result. The Black Lives Matter movement of the 2010s has placed great emphasis on teaching children acceptance and anti-racism from a young age. Woodson has allowed young Black girls to see themselves in the books they read. Furthermore, their non-Black peers are able to learn and empathize with the Black American experience. 

Women in literature have made a significant impact on the world that can be traced through hundreds of years. In 2022, nobody raises any eyebrows when they’re handed a book with a woman’s name on it.