Wide Sargasso Sea
Jean Rhys
Read alongside Jane Eyre.
Jane Eyre is a well-written, stylish, Victorian classic. The Wide Sargasso Sea is a more modern classic, with parallels with the story from Jane Eyre.
The Jean Rhys book is very good, high in scary moments; it deals sympathetically with a mad woman – effectively the gothic element from Jane Eyre and her mental illness.The book is almost entirely composed of not-telling-the-truth and lying.
“A bit of a mind-scorcher, harrowing.” Recommended.
Gavin 7/11/99
Like Jack Maggs, a fantasy on a character from another novel. Jean found this was a novel she read too fast, and had to go back. It is a fantasy on Jane Eyre. Mrs Rochester is the mad lady in the attic and this is her story. She was born in Jamaica, a white European among emancipated blacks. The islands are sensual and beautiful and brutal. Her mother has been brought over from Martinique to marry a drunken husband who has sex with his slaves. Mrs Rochester (Antoinette) has to try and cope, but it's enough to drive anybody mad. She recommended this book
Gill 5/12/99
The frames have gone all funny - click to make it good.