If there was a class taught by Hannah Woolley, I would sign up immediately. Whatever the cost.
Here's the first paragraph of the introduction:
"The right Education of the Female Sex, as it is in a manner everywhere neglected, so it ought to be generally lamented. Most in this depraved later Age think a Woman learned and wife enough if she can distinguish her Husbands Ben from anothers. Certainly Mans Soul cannot boast of a more sublime Original than ours, they had equally their esslux from the same eternal Immensity, and therefore capable of the same improvement by good Education. Vain man is apt to think we were meerly intended for the Worlds propagation, and to keep its humane inhabitants sweet and clean; but, by their leaves, had we the fame Literature, he would find our brains as fruitful as our bodies. Hence I am induced to believe, we are debarred from the knowledg of humane learning, left our pregnant Wits should rival | | 2 to wring conceits of our insulting Lords and Masters."
Gosh I wish teachers had talked like this to us in junior high.
So who was Ms. Woolley? (Sometimes known as Wolley.)
From Wikipedia -
"Her mother and elder sisters were all skilled in "Physick and Chirurgery" and she learned from them. thing is known of her father. From 1639 to 1646 Wolley worked as a servant for an unnamed woman, almost certainly Anne, Lady Maynard (d. 1647), during which time she learned about medical remedies and recipes. She married Jerome Woolley, a schoolmaster, in 1646 and ran with him a free grammar school at Newport, in Essex. This is very near the Maynard family's house at ittle Easton. In the school she put into practice her skills at "physick."
A few years later, the Woolleys opened a school in Hackney, London. She had at least four sons and two daughters, and the marriage was remembered by Hannah as a happy one. Hannah was widowed in 1661 and from that year on began publishing books on household management. She covered such topics as : recipes, notes on domestic management, embroidery instruction, the etiquette of letter writing, medicinal advice, and perfume making.
These proved to be very popular.Her first book The Ladies Directory was published at her own expense in 1661, and this was soon reprinted in 1664. Her second book The Cooks Guide, was printed at a her publisher's expense and is dedicated to Maynard's daughter, Lady Anne Wroth (1632–1677), and her own daughter, Mary Wolley, earned a reputation as a successful physician, despite her amateur status and the unwelcoming environment for female medical practitioners at that time in history. She used her books as an advertisement for her skills and invited her readers to consult her in person."
Of The Gentlewoman's Companion, a contemporary publisher, Steven Simpson, writes, "In truth is a rank, but captivating, miscellany, including recipes, medical prescriptions, advice to servants and governesses, hints on upbringing, cosmetics and education, rules of social comportment and conduct, instructions and model letters for correspondence (mainly for young ladies), and 'Pleasant Discourses and Witty Dialogues' between gentlemen and ladies. Great bedtime reading."
It's too late for holiday gift giving, but what better way to turn a new leaf in the new year than to literally turn the pages of this, surely hair-raising, straight-talking, amusing, as well as (I'm guessing) wise book.
If you'd like to buy a copy ($45.00) you can find it here:
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