The Eloquence of Mary Astell

Author: Christine M. Sutherland

Mary Astell (1666-1731) was an unusually perceptive thinker and writer during the time of the Enlightenment. Here, author Christine Sutherland explores her importance as a rhetorician, an area that has, until recently, received little attention.

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Practically ignored for over 200 years, Mary Astell's writing returned to prominence in the latter part of the 20th century in a celebrated biography by Ruth Perry. Self-educated, Astell was an avid political thinker, philosopher, educationalist and early feminist. Until recently, little attention has been paid to her importance and skill in rhetoric, where she is known as both a practitioner and theorist. Her work is remarkable for an intellectual depth that does not comprise accessibility and for a style that is forcefully persuasive yet grounded in the rhythms of conversation. Widely respected for her participation in public discourse on politics and philosophy, she was well ahead of her time in the development of the rhetoric of care, an approach later echoed by 20th century feminists in their battle for equality. Drawing inspiration both from ancient theories and models and from early enlightenment philosophy, Astell's thought has a timelessness that allows her to instruct and inspire us all.

Critic Reviews

“Spare and elegant . . . With admirable dexterity and economy, Sutherland sets out women's loss of ideological status in the Reformation and Renaissance. --Regina Janes, University of Toronto Quarterly”

Spare and elegant . . . With admirable dexterity and economy, Sutherland sets out women's loss of ideological status in the Reformation and Renaissance. Regina Janes, University of Toronto Quarterly

About the Author

Christine Sutherland

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Practically ignored for two hundred years. Mary Astell came to prommence in the latter part of the twentieth century as an educationist, a political thinker, a philosopher, but principally as an early feminist. However, little attention has been paid to her importance as a rhetorician where she is known as both a practitioner and theorist. Astell is widely respected for her participation in public discourse on politics and philosophy, and was well ahead of her time in the development of the rhetoric of care that was later put forth by twentieth century feminists.