First performed in 1908, How the Vote Was Won is a one act play by actress Cicely Hamilton and Christopher St. John. Set in England during the early 18th century, How the Vote Was Won uses comedy to tell a story in support of women's suffrage. In this one act the English government tells its people that women do not need to worry about having the right to vote because the men will be in charge of taking care of them. This was part of the ridiculous idea held by the United Kingdom, and the world at the time. Women were held under the authority of their husbands, and would be solely supported by them. This allowed them no place in politics and took away their autonomy. The play stars Horace, an anti-suffragist, who is confronted by many of his female relatives demanding that he start supporting them since they have no rights. Many of these women formally held jobs, financially supporting themselves but have quit in protest and support of the movement for women to have voting rights, the same as men. Now, Horace is forced to either support each of these women, practicing what he preaches, or admit to his hypocritical beliefs. Written by two of the most notable champions in literature for women's rights in the United Kingdom, How the Vote Was Won by Cecily Hamilton and Christopher St. John served as a clever and humorous way to address the inequalities women suffered. Today, the work of these two passionate activists still provides an accurate portrayal of the political landscape they lived in. This edition of How the Vote Was Won by Cecily Hamilton and Christopher St. John features an eye-catching new cover design and is presented in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition is accessible and appealing to contemporary audiences, restoring How the Vote Was Won to modern standards while preserving the clever comedy and impact of the work of Cecily Hamilton and Christopher St. John.

An important new student source book for colleges, universities, and libraries, this is an anthology of the best short plays by female dramatists concerning woman suffrage. Launched in conjunction with "Classic Plays by Women."

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, agit-prop and verbatim theatre we know today.