A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

This is an annotated version of the book1. contains an updated biography of the author at the end of the book for a better understanding of the text.2. This book has been checked and corrected for spelling errorsM. Wollstonecraft was born in 1759. Her father was so great awanderer, that the place of her birth is uncertain; she supposed,however, it was London, or Epping Forest: at the latter place shespent the first five years of her life. In early youth sheexhibited traces of exquisite sensibility, soundness ofunderstanding, and decision of character; but her father being adespot in his family, and her mother one of his subjects, Mary,derived little benefit from their parental training. She receivedno literary instructions but such as were to be had in ordinary dayschools. Before her sixteenth year she became acquainted with Mr.Clare a clergyman, and Miss Frances Blood; the latter, two yearsolder than herself; who possessing good taste and some knowledge ofthe fine arts, seems to have given the first impulse to theformation of her character. At the age of nineteen, she left herparents, and resided with a Mrs. Dawson for two years; when shereturned to the parental roof to give attention to her mother,whose ill health made her presence necessary. On the death of hermother, Mary bade a final adieu to her father's house, and becamethe inmate of F. Blood; thus situated, their intimacy increased,and a strong attachment was reciprocated. In 1783 she commenced aday school at Newington green, in conjunction with her friend, F.Blood. At this place she became acquainted with Dr. Price, to whomshe became strongly attached; the regard was mutual.It is said that she became a teacher from motives of benevolence,or rather philanthropy, and during the time she continued in theprofession, she gave proof of superior qualification for theperformance of its arduous and important duties. Her friend andcoadjutor married and removed to Lisbon, in Portugal, where shedied of a pulmonary disease; the symptoms of which were visiblebefore her marriage. So true was Mary's attachment to her, thatshe entrusted her school to the care of others, for the purpose ofattending Frances in her closing scene. She aided, as did Dr.Young, in "Stealing Narcissa a grave." Her mind was expanded bythis residence in a foreign country, and though clear of religiousbigotry before, she took some instructive lessons on the evils ofsuperstition, and intolerance.On her return she found the school had suffered by her absence, andhaving previously decided to apply herself to literature, she nowresolved to commence. In 1787 she made, or received, proposalsfrom Johnson, a publisher in London, who was already acquaintedwith her talents as an author. During the three subsequent years,she was actively engaged, more in translating, condensing, andcompiling, than in the production of original works. At this timeshe laboured under much depression of spirits, for the loss of herfriend; this rather increased, perhaps, by the publication of"Mary, a novel," which was mostly composed of incidents andreflections connected with their intimacy.The pecuniary concerns of her father becoming embarrassed, Marypractised a rigid economy in her expenditures, and with her savingswas enabled to procure her sisters and brothers situations, towhich without her aid, they could not have had access; her fatherwas sustained at length from her funds; she even found means totake under her protection an orphan child.She had acquired a facility in the arrangement and expression ofthoughts, in her avocation of translator, and compiler, which wasno doubt of great use to her afterward. It was not long until shehad occasion for them. The eminent Burke produced his celebrated"Reflections on the Revolution in France." Mary full of sentimentsof liberty,