Abstract
Abstract: Though rarely read today, Hannah More’s Coelebs in Search of a Wife was one of the bestselling novels of the early nineteenth century. This essay explores an underexamined tension within More’s evangelical novel: its expectation that exemplary Christian women, such as the heroine Lucilla Stanley, be angelically good yet wracked with guilt over their sinfulness. Drawing upon the writings of More’s friends and collaborators, William Wilberforce and John Newton, this essay ties the inconsistencies in Lucilla’s characterization to broader tensions within evangelical thought—mixed messages that evangelical women had to grapple with throughout much of the nineteenth century.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
