British women fiction writers of the 1890s

Organizing her material both by groups of writers and by common themes, Nelson chronicles the historical, literary, and social forces affecting women writers at the fin de siecle and considers the works of well-known and lesser-known writers. Fiction written for the notable Yellow Book is given a separate chapter, for example, as are women's writings centering on marriage and on the woman as artist.

While emphasizing the feminist viewpoint throughout, Nelson is careful to show the range of perspectives evident in these writers' works.