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Feminism: The Essential Historical Writings is an anthology edited with an introduction and commentaries by Miriam Schneir. It was originally published in 1972 and re-published in 1994 by Vintage Books. The book is in print and can be ordered online through Amazon or Indigo. It comprises essays, fiction, memoirs, and letters by what Schneir labels the major feminist writers. The content included ranges from 1776 to 1929 and focuses on topics of civil rights and emancipation. The book has had an influence on education, being used as a resource in women’s studies classes. There have been both positive and negative reviews and opinions of this book by various scholars.

Miriam Schneir
Miriam Schneir was born in 1933 and grew up in New York City. She graduated from Queens College in 1955 and worked as an early childhood educator before becoming a full-time writer. She also had a position as a research associate with the Columbia University Center for Social Sciences Program in Sex Roles and Social Change. Before graduating from Queens College, Schneir also attended Antioch College for two years, where she began to identify with leftist politics and ideas. Her thinking has been influenced by her time at Antioch College and the communist colleagues she encountered in her career as an educator.

Other Works
She is the editor of Feminism in Our Time: The Essential Writings, World War II to the Present (1994) and The Vintage Book of Historical Feminism. With her husband, Walter Schneir, she co-authored Invitation to Inquest (1965). Her work has also appeared in various publications such as Ms., The Nation, The New York Times Magazine, and many others.

Content
The book is made up of essays, fiction, memoirs, and letters by what Schneir labels the major feminist writers, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, George Sand, Mary Wollstonecraft, Abigail Adas, Emma Goldman, Friedrich Engels, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, John Stuart Mill, Margaret Sanger, Virginia Woolf, and many others. The works in this book range from the 18th to 20th century, with the earliest work being from 1776 and the latest being from 1929. The book has five sections: Eighteenth Century Rebels, Women Alone, An American Women’s Movement, Men as Feminists, and Twentieth-Century Themes. The content follows a theme of civil rights and emancipation, specifically focusing on topics of marriage, economics, and personal independence. It also includes multiple works written by men. The influence of Schneir’s leftist background is considered when examining the content chosen for this book.

Education
The book has held a level of influence in education. It has been used to teach students about feminism. In the absence of the history of feminism from traditional history books, students studied this book in women’s studies classes. Some scholars say that the works in the book being familiar make it a useful resource for undergraduate courses focusing on the history of feminism.

Reviews
One common point of discussion throughout reviews is the position of the book in the construction of history. This book is thought to be an example of how the history of feminism is constructed. It holds historical significance because it provides insight into how particular discourses and narratives are established. Some scholars critique knowledge production, as sometimes it is based on very few ideas, which is shown in this book. Some think that this book highlights a linear progression of a western narrative of feminism, failing to fully consider race or include diverse perspectives. The standard construction of feminist history exemplified in this book does not include Black women’s perspectives (3). The writing on the back cover of the book is also critiqued for being misleading as Schneir states that the book highlights ignored or forgotten works, but most of the works are actually pretty well known.

Although these critiques were prominent through reviews, some scholars recognize the importance of the book. They feel that it is an excellent collection of works from the history of feminism. Some also noted that it is a good and accessible resource for students to learn about the history of feminism. Others thought of it as a way for students to challenge the dominant constructions of feminist history.