Abstract:
This thesis focuses on four novels written by the British New Woman feminist writer Mona Caird (1854-1932) - One That Wins (1887), The Wing ofAzrael (1889), The Daughters of Danaus (1894) and The Stones of Sacrifice (1915).Analysing the complex narrative strategy Ofhybridisation used by Caird in each of the four texts, the thesis treats these novels as conscious literary artefacts, transforming existing literary genres in order to facilitate the expression of the writer's radical feminist message. The thesis employs a range of existing critical accounts of fin-de-siecle culture in order to situate Caird's works in a wider aesthetic context, exploring their connections with both literary tradition and avant-garde innovation. At the same time, the thesis pays attention to Caird's involvement with the social and philosophical issues of the day, discussing her novels' feminist, socialist and anti-eugenic content. The thesis is the first full length study of Caird's novels, presenting previously undiscussed literary material enabling an in-depth examination ofher unique aesthetic method.