Ready Reference Treatise: Iola Leroy

By Raja Sharma

“Iola Leroy” by Francis Harper was first published in 1892. It was also titled “Shadows Uplifted.”

It is known as one of the first novels published by an African-American female writer. The novel very dutifully follows what is known as the ‘sentimental’ conventions of late 19th century writing about women.

The book also deals with several serious issues of education for women, miscegenation, abolition, passing, temperance, and social responsibility.

The period between 1890 and 1910 is known as ‘the women’s era’ in the United States. Harper wrote “Iola Leroy” during that period. Between 1890 and 1910, several female writers produced volumes of work.

Ready Reference Treatise: Iola Leroy
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Characters
Chapter Four: Complete Summary
Chapter Five: Critical Analysis

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raja Sharma
• Release date: May 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311688170

Raja Sharma

Raja Sharma is a retired college lecturer.He has taught English Literature to University students for more than two decades.His students are scattered all over the world, and it is noticeable that he is in contact with more than ninety thousand of his students.

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Ready Reference Treatise: Iola Leroy

Copyright

Ready Reference Treatise: Iola Leroy

Raja Sharma

Copyright@2015 Raja Sharma

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Chapter One: Introduction

Iola Leroy by Francis Harper was first published in 1892. It was also titled Shadows Uplifted.

It is known as one of the first novels published by an African-American female writer. The novel very dutifully follows what is known as the ‘sentimental’ conventions of late 19th century writing about women.

The book also deals with several serious issues of education for women, miscegenation, abolition, passing, temperance, and social responsibility.

The period between 1890 and 1910 is known as ‘the women’s era’ in the United States. Harper wrote Iola Leroy during that period. Between 1890 and 1910, several female writers produced volumes of work.

Late 18th century and the early 19th century did not give enough freedom to the women in America.

There was the ideology of the Cult of True Womanhood throughout America. Consequently, the American culture enforced the idea that the civic duty of a virtuous woman is to take care of her husband and children and continue to remain within the confines of her home.

Iola Leroy broke this ideology and challenged the social and cultural norm. The book also challenged the topic of several earlier literary creations.

Iola, the protagonist of the novel, has a desire to do the work as a teacher, a nurse, and as an accountant. She happens to be an outspoken woman who is really an intellectual.

It was a general and moral belief during those times that a woman must be meek and docile, but Iola Leroy counters this conventional idea. The earlier idea was dictated by a male-dominated society, but this novel challenged that idea too.

During the 1850s and 1860s, the