Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and the Eighteenth-Century Familiar Letter

This scholarly study of the letters written by Lady Mary (1689-1762), an English aristocrat, highlights one of the few artistic avenues open to women during the 18th century. Lowenthal, an assistant professor of English at Tulane University, convincingly argues that Lady Mary's ``familiar'' letters represented not only a straightforward means of communication, but a presentation of her experiences and observations within a deliberately constructed and dramatic epistolary form. After eloping with Edward Wortley, Lady Mary traveled with her husband to Turkey and wrote polished and informative letters about life there that were published after her death. Lowenthal analyzes and quotes extensively from letters addressed to significant men in her life, including some written to the poet Alexander Pope. Other letters satirized English society, dealt with politics or offered literary criticism, and are notable for their artful construction and wit. This is a well-researched contribution to 18th-century women's studies. (Jan.)