1852 FEMALE PIETY. Women of Christianity Exemplary for Acts of Piety and Charity. Early Church to 19th Century.

Inexplicably rare on the market, Kavanagh's work is an unusual one in the history of female Christian biography, providing a sort of "influence of women on church history," ranging from the earliest days under the Roman Empire through the mid-19th century. Utilizing only female characters, Kavanagh narrates the uniquely female influence of the female martyrs under Rome, the women of note among the Greek Fathers, the female monastics and mystics prior to the Reformation, female puritans, and eighteenth and nineteenth century womanly worthies such as Selina Countess of Huntingdon, Elizabeth Fry, Hannah More, etc., 

Her work is fascinating, arguing that women have played a unique role in civilizing and spiritualizing the ambition and violence of men, even mission driven Christian men. No copies traced at auction or on the market.

Kavanagh, Julia. Women of Christianity, Exemplary for Acts of Piety and Charity. New York. D. Appleton & Co. 1852. First Edition. 384pp.

A good, solid example in faded cloth, boards a bit warped with small nick at head of spine. That said, remarkably solid and clean.