Elizabeth Robins

Votes for Women! (1907) is a play by American actress, writer, and suffragette Elizabeth Robins. Having established herself as one of England’s leading actresses with her productions of Henrik Ibsen’s dramas, Robins retired from the stage to pursue a writing career. Votes for Women!, inspired by Robins’ own activism as a suffragette, was the first major play to represent the movement on stage. Despite its lukewarm reception and controversial subject matter, Robins’ work would inspire countless other so-called suffragette plays, not only making space in the male-dominated theatrical world for plays written by, for, and about women, but also reclaiming the political influence of the dramatic arts in order to promote a contemporary social struggle. The play opens in the opulent Wynnstay House, a country home in Hertforshire owned by Lady and Lord John Wynnstay. There, Vida Levering, a militant activist for women’s suffrage, prepares to leave for a rally in Trafalgar Square. Defending her political beliefs and motivations against the skepticism and conservative values of her hosts, Miss Levering stays true to her values and leaves for London with a renewed sense of purpose. At the crowded demonstration held at one of London’s most iconic sites, a symbol of state power and military might, Miss Levering works up the courage to address the gathered people. Initially nervous, she overcomes hecklers and her own fears to deliver a rousing speech in support of women’s suffrage, powerfully demonstrating the determination necessary to resist the powers that be in order to achieve what must and will be done. Votes for Women! is a captivating work of political theater from one of the leading actresses and dramatists of the early twentieth century. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Elizabeth Robins’ Votes for Women! is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

This book has been considered by academicians and scholars of great significance and value to literature. This forms a part of the knowledge base for future generations. So that the book is never forgotten we have represented this book in a print format as the same form as it was originally first published. Hence any marks or annotations seen are left intentionally to preserve its true nature.

Twelve o'clock, Sunday morning, end of June. With the rising of the Curtain, enter the Butler. As he is going, with majestic port, to answer the door L., enter briskly from the garden, by lower French window, Lady John Wynnstay, flushed, and flapping a garden hat to fan herself. She is a pink-cheeked woman of fifty-four, who has plainly been a beauty, keeps her complexion, but is "gone to fat." Lady John. Has Miss Levering come down yet? Butler (pausing C.). I haven't seen her, m'lady. Lady John (almost sharply as Butler turns L.). I won't have her disturbed if she's resting. (To herself as she goes to writing-table.) She certainly needs it. Butler. Yes, m'lady. Lady John (sitting at writing-table, her back to front door). But I want her to know the moment she comes down that the new plans arrived by the morning post. Butler (pausing nearly at the door). Plans, m'la-- Lady John. She'll understand. There they are. (Glancing at the clock.) It's very important she should have them in time to look over before she goes-- (Butler opens the door L.) (Over her shoulder.) Is that Miss Levering? Butler. No, m'lady. Mr. Farnborough. Exit Butler. (Enter the Hon. R. Farnborough. He is twenty-six; reddish hair, high-coloured, sanguine, self-important.)

"After all, we aren't yet living in the millennium, Julian. What I'm afraid of is that some day you'll be wanting to carry these notions of yours beyond the bounds of what's reasonable." "You mean," said the other young man, with a flash in his dark eyes, "you mean you're afraid I may just chance to be honest in my 'notions, ' as you call them, of a scheme of social justice.

Elizabeth Robins' most famous novel, "Open Question". It was wildly popular when it first published. This is a reprinted edition.

Elizabeth Robins (August 6, 1862 - May 8, 1952) was an actress, playwright, novelist, and suffragette. The Messenger, a sensational transatlantic spy novel, was written after Robins' popular book "The Open Question", when Robins decidedly approach the public market. Contemporary review was unfavorable: the Daily Chronicle as 'Wasted Talent' and in Truth as 'a very dead horse indeed'.

Elizabeth Robins' most famous play, "Votes for Women " The first play to bring the "street politics of women's suffrage to the stage", "Votes for Women " led to a flourish of suffrage drama.

The astonishing women involved in the Actresses Franchise League set up their own theatre companies and engaged with the battle for the vote by writing and performing campaigning plays all over the country. They launched themselves onto the political stage with their satirical plays, sketches and monologues whilst at the same time challenging the staid conventions of the Edwardian Theatre of the day. The legacy of their inspiring work to change both theatre and society has survived in the political theatre, agitprop and verbatim theatre we know today. Introduced and set in an historical context by Dr Susan Croft together with a chronology of suffrage drama.