Mary Wollstonecraft has been described as 'the mother of feminism'. The progress of her literary reputation charts a curve which parallels that of feminist theory, both in the field of women's studies and in that of literary criticism. The writings gathered together here for the first time will enable students and researchers to read for themseves a wide historical range of comments and reactions to Wollstonecraft's writing, and to chart her far-reaching influence right up to present day.