A really interesting article. I read about the internal wrangling of Virago a few months ago and just assumed it had gone, or was going, the way of all flesh so to speak. It's good to know that it isn't.
Yes, I think it's a real achievement that they've managed to weather the changes in the publishing industry over the years and remain true to their core mission. Thank you for reading : )
What a fascinating look back! I’d forgotten about some of those publications and the roles they played in the burgeoning feminist movement. And now you’ve provided the inside stories.
I’m glad to see Virago is still going strong, changing with the times but still true to their original mission.
Terrifying, too. Everything I thought I knew based on my own sheltered and planned out growing-up years went straight to hell when I opened my eyes to the sheer bravery of those women who were having none of it--or at least not all of it--and were coming out as entirely different citizen-creatures.
It was amazing! I should note that I became a feminist early, but not as early as I fulfilled the rest of those expectations: I got married at 18, had the first of my three at 19, and lived with and loved that man for more than 65 years, until he died last year. (After much pushing and pulling he became a feminist, too. He couldn't not see what was happening to those women who needed and wanted more but were gender-bound, even in his own workplace.)
Also, I am sorry to hear about your husband, such a loss after so many years together. Proof that you can have strong feminist values and be happily married for a lifetime. I'm glad you managed to make a feminist out of him ; )
Thanks. Even at 18 I must have recognized that this is a man who loved women for who they are. His mother was a housewife, too, but she did a lifetime of meaningful volunteer work. He was so proud of her.
He was my first reader, and a good one, as I went from wife and mother to full time writer. He caught things I surely would have missed, and, most important, stopped me from getting too high-falutin'. We both came from blue collar stock he thought it was important that I come across as me. He was right.
Wow, I never really considered how it might be a scary new world. You must have so much insight! I would love to have a chat sometime about your experiences : )
I’ve bought and read a few Virago texts in the past, but I didn’t know about the history of the press. Thank you for sharing this fascinating insight into the various efforts to promote women’s stories :)
Absolutely love Angelou's memoir. I remember encountering it in 8th grade English. It was heavy stuff for my teacher to tackle; feel grateful for it. I had no idea about this story of its publication.
Great piece and a tribute to a truly inspirational publishing House. When I was a young woman I read every title in your cover photo, and even today I am discovering their editions of Oliphant and Yonge. It seems blindingly obvious that when women are the major buyers and consumers of fiction, that they should have had a dedicated label, one wonders why it took the industry so long. ..and then one smiles sadly to oneself and just is happy that it happened at all!
This is a brilliant article, Kate - loved learning more about the history of Virago and these connections to the movement. Glad they're continuing to survive and evolve!
A really interesting article. I read about the internal wrangling of Virago a few months ago and just assumed it had gone, or was going, the way of all flesh so to speak. It's good to know that it isn't.
Yes, I think it's a real achievement that they've managed to weather the changes in the publishing industry over the years and remain true to their core mission. Thank you for reading : )
Definitely. Thank you for writing!
What a fascinating look back! I’d forgotten about some of those publications and the roles they played in the burgeoning feminist movement. And now you’ve provided the inside stories.
I’m glad to see Virago is still going strong, changing with the times but still true to their original mission.
Thanks Ramona! It must have been an exciting time for women's publishing.
Terrifying, too. Everything I thought I knew based on my own sheltered and planned out growing-up years went straight to hell when I opened my eyes to the sheer bravery of those women who were having none of it--or at least not all of it--and were coming out as entirely different citizen-creatures.
It was amazing! I should note that I became a feminist early, but not as early as I fulfilled the rest of those expectations: I got married at 18, had the first of my three at 19, and lived with and loved that man for more than 65 years, until he died last year. (After much pushing and pulling he became a feminist, too. He couldn't not see what was happening to those women who needed and wanted more but were gender-bound, even in his own workplace.)
Also, I am sorry to hear about your husband, such a loss after so many years together. Proof that you can have strong feminist values and be happily married for a lifetime. I'm glad you managed to make a feminist out of him ; )
Thanks. Even at 18 I must have recognized that this is a man who loved women for who they are. His mother was a housewife, too, but she did a lifetime of meaningful volunteer work. He was so proud of her.
He was my first reader, and a good one, as I went from wife and mother to full time writer. He caught things I surely would have missed, and, most important, stopped me from getting too high-falutin'. We both came from blue collar stock he thought it was important that I come across as me. He was right.
Wow, I never really considered how it might be a scary new world. You must have so much insight! I would love to have a chat sometime about your experiences : )
That would be nice, Kate. I've already written about some of it throughout my long writing life. Here are two of my more recent pieces:
https://constantcommoner.substack.com/p/on-housewives-and-homemakers-and
https://constantcommoner.substack.com/p/listen-to-the-sisters
Thanks! I will check these out; just realised you have 2 substacks!!
Sorry, should have mentioned that. I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate them, but I have paid subscribers in so I'm not sure what to do!
Jolly good!
I’ve bought and read a few Virago texts in the past, but I didn’t know about the history of the press. Thank you for sharing this fascinating insight into the various efforts to promote women’s stories :)
Thank you! Yes, when I looked down my bookshelf, there were many books bearing the Virago logo! : )
Absolutely love Angelou's memoir. I remember encountering it in 8th grade English. It was heavy stuff for my teacher to tackle; feel grateful for it. I had no idea about this story of its publication.
Me too! I went on to read most of her collection. Such a warm and humane person.
Great piece and a tribute to a truly inspirational publishing House. When I was a young woman I read every title in your cover photo, and even today I am discovering their editions of Oliphant and Yonge. It seems blindingly obvious that when women are the major buyers and consumers of fiction, that they should have had a dedicated label, one wonders why it took the industry so long. ..and then one smiles sadly to oneself and just is happy that it happened at all!
Thank you, Sarah! Yes, it seems like it was a no-brainer really, doesn't it?! But thank goodness for Virago, and that they are still current.
Thank you for reading and commenting (and for the upgrade!) it means so much : )
This is a brilliant article, Kate - loved learning more about the history of Virago and these connections to the movement. Glad they're continuing to survive and evolve!
Thanks so much, Charlene! Me too - I have many of their editions on my bookshelf : )
You're welcome! I do too, love finding them in second hand bookshops. 😊
Oh, the second hand ones always have the best covers! : )