Studies in Restoration/Neoclassical Lit

              Print and journalism in the 18 th century still share similarities to news reporting today. In the latter half of the 1700’s, journalists were writing more on their opinions and expectations of the government rather than the political positions of the monarchy. Although their headlines were longer, they were still dramatic, capturing the reader’s attention such as The Newgate Calendar ’s entry Circumstantial Account of the Life, Trial, Piracies, and Execution of Captain John Kidd, Who Was Hanged At Execution Dock . Speaking of audience, the purpose of the print was to inform its readers of the goings in politics and government. Word of mouth took weeks and months to receive new information on the happening of the world around them. Much like today, as seen in The London Magazine , more prevalent issues filled the beginnings of the pages while gossip and entertainment occupied the final pages. When it comes to style, there are some characteristics that remain the same w

Fearless. That is the only way that I can correctly describe The Amorous Lady. Vocalizing feminist views in the age of revolution, The Amorous Lady, suspected to be Martha Fowke Sansom, was unconventional and ahead of her time. Sure of herself, passion bled through the pages of her writings as she refused to conform to the rules. In her poem On Being Charged with Writing Incorrectly , Sansom exposes her critics limited structure and how she will not fall into the line of conformity. Sansom writes, No let my genius have its way / My genius I will still obey / Nor with their stupid rules control / The sacred pulse that beats within my soul (Lines 9-12). Sansom broke away from what was considered proper writing as she voiced frustrations of the expectations of what good writing should be arguing the male dominated literary scene. Her work published anonymously in the Barbados Gazette, Sansom’s subject were carnal and emotional and proved to be more accepted in the transatlantic re