Charlotte Perkins Gilman

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CPG , a prolific early twentieth-century American writer and feminist social critic, published satirical poems and nationalist verse, newspaper articles, short stories, serialized novels, and a vast amount of non-fiction. She was unapologetically didactic, and advocated for women's liberation from domestic service in order to better society. Her writing, and in particular her short story The Yellow Wall-Paper, became a touchstone for second-wave feminism in the United States.
  • BirthName: Charlotte Anna Perkins
  • Married: Stetson; C. P. Stetson; Gilman
Black and white photograph of Charlotte Perkins Gilman, shown in profile, from the torso up, with one hand resting on a fur wrap. She wears a dark jacket over a white shirt and her wavy hair is done in a loose bun.

Milestones

3 July 1860

Charlotte Anna Perkins (later Gilman) was born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
Kessler, Carol Farley. Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Her Progress Toward Utopia with Selected Writings. Syracuse University Press, 1995.
14
Hill, Mary A. Charlotte Perkins Gilman: The Making of a Radical Feminist 1860-1896. Temple University Press, 1980.
22

12 January 1884

Charlotte Perkins Stetson (later CPG ) first reached print, when her poem titled In Duty Bound appeared in the Woman's Journal.
Scharnhorst, Gary. Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Twayne Publishers, 1985.
6

January 1892

The Yellow Wall-Paper, a story by Charlotte Stetson (the future CPG ) appeared in the New England Magazine, after being rejected as too distressing by the Atlantic Monthly.
Kessler, Carol Farley. Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Her Progress Toward Utopia with Selected Writings. Syracuse University Press, 1995.
290
“Literary landmarks”. Mslexia, No. 22, July 2004, p. 49.

January - December 1915

CPG 's now well-known tale of a feminist utopia, Herland, appeared serially in her own journal, the Forerunner.
Scharnhorst, Gary. Charlotte Perkins Gilman: A Bibliography. The Scarecrow Press, 1985.
71

17 August 1935

CPG , who was suffering from advanced breast cancer, committed suicide with chloroform.
Kessler, Carol Farley. Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Her Progress Toward Utopia with Selected Writings. Syracuse University Press, 1995.
40

October 1935

CPG 's The Living of Charlotte Perkins Gilman : An Autobiography was published two months after the author's death.
Scharnhorst, Gary. Charlotte Perkins Gilman: A Bibliography. The Scarecrow Press, 1985.
182

1973

CPG 's short story The Yellow Wall-Paper was re-issued by The Feminist Press . It has ever since been a popular text for courses and anthologies in both American literature and women's studies.
Scharnhorst, Gary. Charlotte Perkins Gilman: A Bibliography. The Scarecrow Press, 1985.
63

Biography

Birth and Background

3 July 1860

Charlotte Anna Perkins (later Gilman) was born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
Kessler, Carol Farley. Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Her Progress Toward Utopia with Selected Writings. Syracuse University Press, 1995.
14
Hill, Mary A. Charlotte Perkins Gilman: The Making of a Radical Feminist 1860-1896. Temple University Press, 1980.
22

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