The Woman's World
Encyclopedia
The Woman's World was a Victorian women's magazine published by Cassell
between 1886 and 1890, edited by Oscar Wilde
between 1887 and 1889.
, Wemyss Reid, the General Manager of Cassell & Co., wrote to Wilde in April 1887, enclosing several copies of the magazine. Wilde replied interestedly and suggested possible changes to the magazine. In May, he signed a contract for the editorship, to work two mornings a week and be paid a weekly salary of £6.
Wilde managed to entice contributions from well-known writers and distinguished figures including Elisabeth of Wied
(the Queen of Romania), Princess Christian and Marie Corelli
. He even asked Queen Victoria to submit poems, but was refused. The magazine continued to publish articles on high society trends and fashion, but with a more artistic slant. Sarah Bernhardt
wrote an essay on "The history of my tea gown", and Wilde offered to write an article in her name about her American tour.
Wilde wrote a column of literary notes and responses to readers. At one point he had to defend himself against early animal rights activists who objected his promotion of the "wearing of dead animals" in his fashion notes.
Wilde soon tired of his editorial work and often failed to turn up for work or attend meetings with the publishers. As a result he was dropped as editor, but the magazine was unable to continue without him.
Orion Publishing Group
Orion Publishing Group Ltd. is a UK-based book publisher. It is owned by Hachette Livre. In 1998 Orion bought Cassell.-History:Full history of the group can be found on Orion Publishing Group is owned by -Imprints:...
between 1886 and 1890, edited by Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s...
between 1887 and 1889.
Foundation
In the late nineteenth century the market for peroidicals was growing, and interest from women, who had always been the larger part of the market for fiction, increasing. Cassell and Co. launched a new magazine, The Lady's World in October 1886, intended to appeal to an aspirant middle-class audience of lady readers. It concentrated on fashion and trends among high society. Impressed by Wilde's journalism on the Pall Mall GazettePall Mall Gazette
The Pall Mall Gazette was an evening newspaper founded in London on 7 February 1865 by George Murray Smith; its first editor was Frederick Greenwood...
, Wemyss Reid, the General Manager of Cassell & Co., wrote to Wilde in April 1887, enclosing several copies of the magazine. Wilde replied interestedly and suggested possible changes to the magazine. In May, he signed a contract for the editorship, to work two mornings a week and be paid a weekly salary of £6.
Wilde's editorship
Wilde persuaded the publisher to change the title to The Woman's World, the change of description indicated it positioned itself towards an emerging class of educated women reflecting their changing place in society. Stephen Calloway and David Colvin characterised the change as one which eliminated connotations of "bas-bourgeois snobbery and reflected his advanced views on female emancipation". The titular change was part of a wider strategy of focusing more on what women "think and feel" and not exclusively on what they wear.Wilde managed to entice contributions from well-known writers and distinguished figures including Elisabeth of Wied
Elisabeth of Wied
-Titles and styles:*29 December 1843 – 15 November 1869: Her Serene Highness Princess Elisabeth of Wied*15 November 1869 – 26 March 1881: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Romania...
(the Queen of Romania), Princess Christian and Marie Corelli
Marie Corelli
Marie Corelli was a British novelist. She enjoyed a period of great literary success from the publication of her first novel in 1886 until World War I. Corelli's novels sold more copies than the combined sales of popular contemporaries, including Arthur Conan Doyle, H. G...
. He even asked Queen Victoria to submit poems, but was refused. The magazine continued to publish articles on high society trends and fashion, but with a more artistic slant. Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
wrote an essay on "The history of my tea gown", and Wilde offered to write an article in her name about her American tour.
Wilde wrote a column of literary notes and responses to readers. At one point he had to defend himself against early animal rights activists who objected his promotion of the "wearing of dead animals" in his fashion notes.
Wilde soon tired of his editorial work and often failed to turn up for work or attend meetings with the publishers. As a result he was dropped as editor, but the magazine was unable to continue without him.