Peace Train to Beijing: And Beyond Book

This book should really be better known. Astell was a powerful exponent of rationalist philosophy, and a caustic critic of her society's patriarchal education system. Part 1 makes a series of arguments in favour of a women's college. Part 2 broadens the focus: Astell offers a complete philosophy of mind, logic, rhetoric and theory of education, in an effort to demonstrate that conventional expectations of women's thought and education falsified their human intelligence. Astell writes clearly and concisely, and seasons her prose with amusingly sarcastic jabs at her opponents.

Readers who are acquainted with more recent feminist theory may find aspects of Astell's approach a bit bizarre. She was a staunch Anglican and Tory, and does not promote any thoroughgoing legal reforms. She goes so far as to say that she doesn't oppose any legal privilege currently enjoyed by men over women. All the solace Astell can offer to women is that if they follow her advice, they might become wiser and more able to bear the inequities of life. Nonetheless, she insists on the intellectual equality of men and women, and demonstrates it through her vivid prose and rigorous reasoning.