Milcah Martha Moore's Book

Milcah Martha Moore's Book: A Commonplace Book from Revolutionary America, edited by Catherine La Courreye Blecki, offers a rare window into the intellectual life of the colonial period. This volume presents the first publication of a significant collection compiled by Milcah Martha Moore, an educated woman living in Philadelphia during the American Revolution. The text features 126 works of prose and poetry from sixteen different authors, including notable figures such as Benjamin Franklin and Patrick Henry. As a primary source for American literature, this collection highlights the diverse literary tastes of the era.

This scholarly edition of Milcah Martha Moore's Book serves as a vital resource for those studying women authors and the social life of early America. The collection includes rare writings by Susanna Wright and Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson, alongside works by Hannah Griffitts. These pieces span various genres, from religious poetry to political commentary, proving that women's intellectual interests extended far beyond the domestic sphere. This volume is a significant contribution to the study of colonial American literature and intellectual history.