This book examines women's writing in Italy from Unification to the present day, exploring the lives and works of women writers within the context of Italian history, culture and politics. The changing face of Italian social and political life since Unification has greatly affected the position of women in Italy. This work discusses the relation between the changing role of women over this period, their struggle for social and political emancipation and equality, and the search by women writers for a personal and authentic literary voice. Wood's other publications include Woman as Object: Narrative and Gender in the Work of Alberto Moravia (1990).