This essay considers the work of Mary Granville Pendarves Delany (1700-1788) from the perspectives of lesbian studies and queer theory. Delany participated in communities of intimate women friends in eighteenth-century London and Dublin. These friendships fell along a continuum from sexual intimacy to chaste devotion; the first section of this essay explores these themes in Delany's writing. Next, comparing Delany's "improvements" at Delville and Bulstrode with a tradition of erotic garden design allows us to see Delany in the act of creating three-dimensional spaces for female intimacy. Finally, the essay suggests that Delany's famous botanical illustrations form part of an English Linnaean tradition that expresses human sexual variation via representations of the reproductive life of plants.
As the official publication of the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies (ASECS), Eighteenth-Century Studies is committed to publishing the best of current writing on all aspects of eighteenth-century culture. The journal selects essays that employ different modes of analysis and disciplinary discourses to explore how recent historiographical, critical, and theoretical ideas have engaged scholars concerned with the eighteenth century.
One of the largest publishers in the United States, the Johns Hopkins University Press combines traditional books and journals publishing units with cutting-edge service divisions that sustain diversity and independence among nonprofit, scholarly publishers, societies, and associations. Journals The Press is home to the largest journal publication program of any U.S.-based university press. The Journals Division publishes 85 journals in the arts and humanities, technology and medicine, higher education, history, political science, and library science. The division also manages membership services for more than 50 scholarly and professional associations and societies. Books With critically acclaimed titles in history, science, higher education, consumer health, humanities, classics, and public health, the Books Division publishes 150 new books each year and maintains a backlist in excess of 3,000 titles. With warehouses on three continents, worldwide sales representation, and a robust digital publishing program, the Books Division connects Hopkins authors to scholars, experts, and educational and research institutions around the world. Project MUSE® Project MUSE is a leading provider of digital humanities and social sciences content, providing access to journal and book content from nearly 300 publishers. MUSE delivers outstanding results to the scholarly community by maximizing revenues for publishers, providing value to libraries, and enabling access for scholars worldwide. Hopkins Fulfillment Services (HFS) HFS provides print and digital distribution for a distinguished list of university presses and nonprofit institutions. HFS clients enjoy state-of-the-art warehousing, real-time access to critical business data, accounts receivable management and collection, and unparalleled customer service.
This item is part of a JSTOR Collection.
For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions
Eighteenth-Century Studies
© 2005 The Johns Hopkins University Press
Request Permissions
