Selection “Almost an ideal Woman”

Until 1 April 2025, the selection “Almost an Ideal Woman. The First Books, Magazines and Calendars for Latvian Readers” is on display in the “Retumu pasaule” room of the National Library of Latvia.

The selection is mainly dedicated to the materials published during the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. On the one hand, this era was distinguished by the “new normal”, in which women became a separate target audience with their own characteristic reading habits and literary interests. On the other hand, even then texts played a controlling role imposing the standard of the “ideal woman” on readers. The selection includes the first books, calendars and magazines addressed to women, as well as thematic postcards from the NLL collection.