Girls and Women

"Girls and Women" by Harriet E. Paine is a guide offering late 19th-century women advice on navigating societal expectations and achieving personal fulfillment. It uses examples of different women's lives to reveal the choices and challenges women face. The book kicks off with the contrasting stories of two women, one yielding to family demands and the other pursuing an artistic career despite the cost. Through these tales, the book introduces key themes related to women, like the importance of a good education and striving for moral greatness, and the promise of achieving one's goals while improving the world.