Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted

Terry Novak (Johnson and Wales University)

Ed. by Emory Elliott, University of California, Riverside
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 3.2.2: American (US) Writing and Culture: The Nineteenth Century, 1783-1900.
Vol. editors: Emory Elliott (University of California, Riverside), Stephen E. Meats (Pittsburg State University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1892

Places

United States (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel

Resources

Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted is, to date, Frances E. W. Harper’s best known work of fiction. The novel, written in the sentimental style so popular with nineteenth century American women writers, tackles several issues that were of extreme importance to Harper. True to her time and to the philosophy of the Cult of True Womanhood, Harper deals extensively with Christianity and the role of the good Christian woman. On the other hand, Harper also preaches on the importance of women’s self-sufficiency and independence. Most critical to her story is the race question. Harper addresses such critical issues as the color line, miscegenation, abolition, reconstruction, education, social responsibility, and suffrage for the African-A…

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885 words

Citation: Novak, Terry. "Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 16 July 2002; last revised 02 July 2007. [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4398, accessed 21 November 2024.]

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