Mary Astell

Mary Astell was a British writer, philosopher and women's rights activist (1666–1731). She was born at Newcastle upon Tyne and died at London.

Mary Astell in brief

Born
1666
Died
1731
Known for
writer, philosopher and women's rights activist
Place of birth
Newcastle upon Tyne
Contents

Catalogued works

31 works under this name are catalogued by Open Library and Wellcome Collection. Their recorded dates run from 1694 to 2004.

Reflections upon marriage. Six familiar essays. Reflections upon marriage, 1706. A serious proposal to the ladies, 1694. Some reflections upon marriage. A serious proposal to the ladies. A farther essay relating to the female-sex. The Christian religion, as professed by a daughter of the Church of England. An Essay in defence of the female sex. An enquiry after wit: wherein the trifling arguing and impious raillery of the late Earl of Shaftsbury, in his Letter concerning enthusiasm, ... are fully answer'd, .., dated 1722. An essay in defense of the female sex, dated 1696. An impartial enquiry into the causes of rebellion and civil war in this kingdom: in an examination of Dr. Kennett's sermon, Jan. 31. 1703/4. .., dated 1704. Bart'lemy fair, dated 1709. The Christian religion, dated 1705. A fair way with the dissenters and their patrons. Not writ by Mr. L-----y, or any other furious Jacobite, whether clergyman or layman; but by a very moderate person and dutiful subject to the Queen, dated 1704. A farther essay relating to the female-sex, containing six characters, and six perfections, dated 1696. Mary Astell and John Norris, dated 2004. Moderation truly stated, dated 1704. Moderation truly stated, or, A review of a late pamphlet entitul'd Moderation a vertue, dated 1704. Political writings, dated 1996. Reflexionen und Vorschläge, dated 2000. The first English feminist, dated 1986. Letters concerning the love of God, dated 1705. Serious proposal to the ladies, for the advancement of their true and greatest interest, dated 1694. Reflections upon marriage [by Mary Astell]., dated 1706, held by Wellcome Collection. Letters of the Right Honourable Lady M--y W---y M---e : written during her travels in Europe, Asia and Africa ... Which contain ... accounts of the policy and manners of the Turks / [Mary Wortley Montagu]., dated 1790, held by Wellcome Collection. Letters of the Right Honourable Lady M--y W----y M----e: written during her travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, to persons of distinction, men of letters, &c., in different parts of Europe. Which contain among other curious relations, accounts of the policy and manners of the Turks. Drawn from sources that have been inaccessible to other travellers / [Mary Wortley Montagu]., dated 1785, held by Wellcome Collection. An essay in defence of the female sex ... In which are inserted the characters of a pedant, a squire, a beau, a vertuoso, a poetaster, a city-critick, &c. In a letter to a lady / Written by a lady [i.e. Mrs. Drake]., dated 1696, held by Wellcome Collection. Some reflections upon marriage. With additions, dated M.DCC.XXX. [1730], held by Wellcome Collection. Moderation truly stated or, a review of a late pamphlet, entitul'd, Moderation a vertue. With a prefatory discourse to Dr. D'Aveanant, concerning his late essays on peace and war., dated 1704, held by Wellcome Collection. A fair way with the dissenters and their patrons . Not Writ by Mr. L-----y, or any other Furious Jacobite, whether Clergyman or Layman; but by a very Moderate Person and Dutiful Subject to the Queen., dated 1704, held by Wellcome Collection.

In public collections

Work associated with this heading is recorded in 1 named public collection.

Wellcome Collection: 20 recorded objects, read from the institution's own published catalogue.

Literature

12 scholarly publications naming this subject were located in the registry of record.

Mary Astell and the Virtues, Feminist Interpretations of Mary Astell, 2016. Mary Astell and John Locke, Mary Astell, 2016. Mary Astell and the Problem of Ethos, The Eloquence of Mary Astell. Mary Astell on the Causation of Sensation, Mary Astell, 2016. 2 Mary Astell and the Virtues, Feminist Interpretations of Mary Astell, 2016. The so-called first Feminists : orthodoxy and innovation in England's Seventeenth-Century discussion of women's education, Journal of English Studies, 2009. Mujer y escritura en la época de Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, América Latina Hoy, 2009. Mary Astell’s “Machiavellian Moment” in Moderation truly Stated, Locke Studies, 2025. Self-Improvement in Astellian Friendship, Feminist Philosophy Quarterly, 2023. La influencia de las fuentes cartesianas en la obra religiosa y política de Mary Astell, Isegoría, 2024. Siyasi Düşünceler Tarihinde Kadınların Üzerindeki Unutulmuşluk Perdesini Açmaya Yönelik Bir Çaba: Mary Astell’in Birey, Toplum ve İktidar Anlayışı, Anadolu Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, 2024. Mary Astell projekt edukacyjny, Civitas Hominibus, 2016.

Digitised editions and texts

2 digitised items associated with this heading are catalogued by Internet Archive.

Letters Concerning the Love of God, Between the Author of the Proposal to the Ladies, and Mr ... (1705) — Internet Archive. The Literary Museum; Or, Ancient and Modern Repository: Comprising Scarce and Curious Tracts ... (1792) — Internet Archive.

Scholarly footprint

Bibliographic registers publish measured figures for this heading: 29 language editions of the general reference literature carrying an article (Wikimedia (language editions)). A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.

Evidence base

This article draws on 5 independent source lineages. Copies and mirrors of the same underlying record were collapsed into a single witness, so 5 means 5 genuinely separate publishers of record. 14 further registers were consulted and returned nothing for this heading.

Chronology

  1. 1666Mary Astell born at Newcastle upon Tyne.
  2. 1705Letters Concerning the Love of God, Between the Author of the Proposal to the Ladies, and Mr ... digitised by Internet Archive.
  3. 1731Mary Astell died at London.

Sources

Each source is named with the standing the house places on it, so the evidence can be weighed rather than taken on trust.

  1. 1.

    2 Mary Astell and the Virtues, Feminist Interpretations of Mary Astell, 2016

    scholarly publication · Scholarly

    Consult the source
  2. 2.

    Mary Astell and John Locke, Mary Astell, 2016

    scholarly publication · Scholarly

    Consult the source
  3. 3.

    Mary Astell and the Problem of Ethos, The Eloquence of Mary Astell

    scholarly publication · Scholarly

    Consult the source
  4. 4.

    Mary Astell and the Virtues, Feminist Interpretations of Mary Astell, 2016

    scholarly publication · Scholarly

    Consult the source
  5. 5.

    Mary Astell on the Causation of Sensation, Mary Astell, 2016

    scholarly publication · Scholarly

    Consult the source
  6. 6.

    Open Library author record for Mary Astell (Internet Archive), 30 catalogued works.

    Institutional database · Scholarly · Internet Archive

    Consult the source
  7. 7.

    Directory of Open Access Journals lists 18 articles naming Mary Astell.

    open access index · Unverified

    Consult the source
  8. 8.

    Internet Archive, 2 digitised items catalogued under Mary Astell as creator.

    digital repository · Unverified

    Consult the source
  9. 9.

    Wellcome Collection catalogue records 20 works naming Mary Astell.

    museum collection · Unverified · Wellcome Collection

    Consult the source
  10. 10.

    Wikidata, structured authority record Q2359434: Mary Astell

    reference work · Reputable secondary · Wikidata

    Consult the source
  11. 11.

    “Mary Astell”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading

    reference work · Reputable secondary · Wikipedia

    Consult the source

Elsewhere in Books

For owners

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