Book Description

A fictional autobiography of an 18-year-old who attempts to overcome hardship by way of her intellect and strong-mindedness, ‘Benigna Machiavelli’ tells the story of her brave battle to free her family from the control of their abusive father. Set in America at the turn of the 20th century, this important work follows Benigna’s journey to womanhood, and her courageous break free from society’s shackles. A compelling story, ́Benigna Machiiavelli ́ will surely delight anyone who is familiar with Charlotte Perkins Gilman's other works. Charlotte Perkins Gilman, also known as Charlotte Perkins Stetson (1860-1935), was an American feminist, writer, publisher, and advocate for social reform. She wrote novels, short stories, poetry, and nonfiction, and has served as a role model for future generations of feminists. She is best remembered for her semi-autobiographical short story, ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ (1899), which she wrote after suffering a severe bout of postpartum depression. Other works of note include her feminist utopian trilogy, ‘Moving the Mountain’ (1911), ‘Herland’ (1915), and ‘With Her in Our Land’ (1916), while her non-fiction titles contain the pioneering ‘Women and Economics’ (1898), ‘The Home: Its Work and Influence’ (1903) and ‘Does a Man Support His Wife?’ (1915). Gilman also published a collection of poems addressing women’s issues, called ‘In This Our World’ (1993).