pp xiv332 1990 hardback £29.95 ISBN 0-7083-1079-6
It is the first major study of the struggle to secure a fairer educational deal for girls and women in Victorian and Edwardian Wales. The author examines the growth of both secondary and higher education for women, charting the development from the limited opportunities of the decades between 1840 and 1880 to the vigorous movement for reform during the 1880s and 90s.
Dr Evans highlights the main personalities behind the movement and relates their work and ideas to the broader social and political context. His survey encompasses the debate surrounding curricular issues in schools, the establishment of training colleges and the place for women in the founding and expansion of the University colleges.
`Evans is well versed in feminist writing on Welsh education . . . his knowledge of the sources is admirably complete . . . There is much new material in this book, which is worthy of consideration by students of Welsh education.' (Journal of Educational Administration and History)
`An exceedingly well researched and carefully documented study of the expansion of education for women in Wales.' (Choice)
`This is a useful book and it does the service of introducing some outstanding pioneers of women's education.' (Gender and Education)
'Evans's book manages to be at once trail-blazing, comprehensive and scholarly.' (History of Education)
'This book will be a gold mine of raw material for anyone interested in the topic of education in general or of Welsh education in particular, and will no doubt pave the way for future and more analytical works.' (Albion)