Godwin
Godwin names 3 different subjects across the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. Each is set out below.
Godwin MARY, also known by her maiden name of MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
MARY, also known by her maiden name of MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT, an English author; born in London, April 27, 1759. She set up a school in conjunction with her sister, at Islington / in 1783. In 1786 she published "Thoughts on the Education of Daughters." This was followed by an answer to Burke's "Reflections on the French Revolution." the "Vindication of the Rights of Woman," etc. She had peculiar ideas on marriage, and formed a somewhat loose connection with one Imlay, whose desertion caused her to attempt suicide. Some time after she fixed her affection on William Godwin. As the bonds of wedlock were deemed a species of slavery in her theory, it was only to legitimize the forthcoming fruits of the union that a marriage between the parties took place. She died in giving birth to a daughter, who became the wife of Shelley the poet. Among her other works are: "Moral and Historical View of the French Revolution"; "Letters from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark." She died in London, Sept. 10, 1797. See GODWIN, WILLIAM. journalist and author; born in Paterson, N. J., Feb. 25, 1816; was graduated at Princeton College in 1834; studied law and was admitted to practice, but preferreed literary pursuits. He married a daughter of William Cullen Bryant, and from 1837 was for many years connected with the New York "Evening Post." During the administration of President Polk he was deputy collector of New York. He edited in 1843-1844 "The Pathfinder," and was for some years a contributor to the "Democratic Review." Of "Putnam's Magazine" he was for a considerable time the principal editor. He published "A Popular View of the Doctrines of Fourier" (1884); "Goethe's Autobiography"; translated and edited Zschokke's "Tales"; "Undine"; "Sintram and his Comnanions"; "Handbook of Universal Biography' (1851); "Constructive Democracy"; "History of France" (1860); "Out of the Past" (1870); "Biography of William Cullen Bryant" (1883); "The Sonnets of Shakespeare" (1900); etc. He died Jan. 7, 1904.
Godwin Earl of the West Saxons
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
Earl of the West Saxons. He was probably son of the South-Saxon Wulfnoth, who was outlawed in 1009, and regained his father's lands by his conduct in the contest with Canute. By 1018 he was an earl, and the year after he married the daughter of Ulf, and soon became Earl of the West Saxons. In 1042 he took the foremost part in raising Edward to the English throne, and was rewarded by the marriage of his daughthe English king. Godwin ter Edith to led the struggle against the worthless king's fondness for foreign favorites, and thus incurred the enmity of the court party. The king heaped insults on Queen Edith, seized her dower, and her money, confined her in the monasand closely tery of Wherwell. Godwin and his sons banished, but they contrived to keep were alive the antipathy of the English to the Norman favorites of Edward, and in the summer of 1052 landed on the S. coast of England. The royal troops, the navy, and vast numbers of the burghers and peasants went over to Godwin; and finally the king was forced to grant his demands, and replace his family in all their offices. Godwin died April 14, 1053.
Godwin WILLIAM, an English political writer and novelist
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
WILLIAM, an English political writer and novelist; born in Wisbeach, England, March 3, 1756. His father (1723-1772) was a dissenting minister. William was educated at Hoxton Presbyterian College; preached as a dissenting minister, 1777-1782. He turned radical, and devoted himself to literature. He married Mary Wollstonecraft in 1797, though he had objections on principle to marriage. He wrote "Inquiry Concerning Political Justice. etc." (1793); "History of the Commonwealth" (1824-1828); the novels, "Caleb Williams" (1794); "St. Leon" (1799); "Mandeville" (1817); etc. He also published histories of Rome, Greece, and England, a "Pantheon," and "Fables" under the pseudonym of Edward Baldwin. He died in London, April 7, 1836. See GODWIN, MARY.
What Has Changed in the Last Century
The 1921 Collier's entry treats Mary Wollstonecraft largely as a scandal, noting her "peculiar ideas on marriage," the "somewhat loose connection with one Imlay," and a marriage entered only to legitimize the coming child; the "Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (1792) is listed almost in passing. That balance has reversed completely. The Vindication is now a standard text in university courses and Wollstonecraft is routinely named as the founder of modern feminist argument in English; a memorial sculpture to her was unveiled at Newington Green in London in 2020. The daughter the entry identifies only as "the wife of Shelley the poet" is Mary Shelley, author of "Frankenstein" (1818), today far better known than her husband; and William Godwin's "Political Justice" is read as a founding statement of philosophical anarchism. The account of Earl Godwin, who died in 1053, stands as written.
Written for this edition, 2026.