Artifact Inventory

Female Quixotism by Tabitha Tenney was originally published in 1801 anonymously by Isaiah Thomas and E.T. Andrews in Boston. Five editions were produced relatively soon after the original: 1801 (Thomas & Andrews); 1808 (Thomas & Whipple); 1825 & 1829 (J.P. Peaslee); 1841 (G.Clark); and in 1992 from the 1801 edition (Oxford University Press; edited by Jean Nienkamp & Andrea Collins). The relatively quick reproduction of this novel suggests a decent amount of contemporary popularity. In her foreword to the 1992 edition, Cathy Davidson writes, “Female Quixotism is one of the best novels written in America before 1825.” If she is accurate in her estimation of this novel, it is not difficult for us to imagine the worth of creating new editions throughout the first half of the 19th century. This blog will further document research concerning the novel’s contemporary popularity and the similarities and differences of the five early editions. This blog will also consider the text as art, revelation of Tenney’s voice and apparent purposes, as well as some other critical analyses.


Having seen on microfilm the simple frontispiece of the 1801 edition I assumed originally that the book was relatively inexpensive but have come to find that Cathy Davidson, in her Revolution and the Word, reports that the relative cost of books was rather prohibitive (Dr. Logan).

The full title of the 1801 edition is Female Quixotism: Exhibited in the Romantic Opinions and Extravagant Adventures of Dorcasina Sheldon. From the title alone the reader may rightfully suspect s/he is in for quite a time of ill advised decisions and tragically flawed self-definition (the Latin tag after the title is also informative of the goal of the text, cf. image of 1801 frontispiece). Soon, I will add to this blog my findings concerning the similarities and/or differences between the frontispieces and general texts of the 1801, 1808, 1825, 1829, and 1841 editions.

While the 1801 frontispiece does not include the name of an author, it is made clear to the reader that the main subject of the book is the life of a particular female. One thing that will be interesting to find is whether or not the text gives any hints of female authorship. Much like Cervantes’ Don Quixote, Female Quixotism is written from the perspective of a supposedly trustworthy historian who seeks to simply retell the facts for the sake of speaking warning into others’ lives.

I welcome all to join me and explore what we may of this text. Enjoy the blog and the process of this research assignment. There is much more soon to come.