The Old Wives' Tale

Arnold Bennett

Maison d'édition: DigiCat

Synopsis

In 'The Old Wives' Tale,' Arnold Bennett masterfully weaves the lives of two sisters, Constance and Sophia, as they navigate the complexities of love, ambition, and the inevitable passage of time in the industrial town of Bursley. The narrative is marked by Bennett's keen psychological insight and a warm, conversational style that draws readers into the characters' intimate experiences. Set against the backdrop of late Victorian England, the novel employs a rich, detailed realism that reflects the socio-economic conditions of the time, highlighting the struggles of women within a patriarchal society while simultaneously celebrating their resilience and strength. Arnold Bennett, a prominent figure of the early 20th century literary scene, was deeply influenced by his own upbringing in a pottery district in England. His personal experiences provided him with a profound understanding of the regional culture and the lives of ordinary individuals. 'The Old Wives' Tale' epitomizes Bennett's thematic focus on the interplay between individual dreams and societal expectations, drawing on his own observations of familial relationships and the transformative power of time. This novel is a must-read for those interested in critical examinations of gender, time, and memory. Bennett's nuanced characters and evocative prose invite readers to reflect on their own life choices, bridging the gap between past and present. Engaging and thought-provoking, 'The Old Wives' Tale' remains a significant contribution to modernist literature.

Disponible depuis: 04/09/2022.

Longueur d'impression: 542 pages.

D'autres livres qui pourraient vous intéresser

The Awakening

Kate Chopin

The Awakening caused a stir amongst it's readers when it was first published in 1899.

With its realistic portrayal of female marital infidelity, an anudience accustomed to the pieties of late Victorian romantic fiction were shocked by Chopin's radical portrayal of a woman trapped in a stifling marriage, seeking passionate physical love outside the confines of her domestic situation.

Voir livre

White Fang

Jack London

This is the story of a magnificent wolf-dog, born in the wild, who struggles to survive in the harsh Yukon. White Fang is the lone survivor of his family and soon learns to follow the brutal law of the North— kill or be killed. Isolated and mistreated, White Fang becomes a mortal fighter, feared by all. Only through kindness and gentleness is this killer transformed into an animal capable of great love.

Voir livre

The Sphinx

Edgar Allan Poe

The Sphinx is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe about a man who decides to visit a relative living near the Hudson River north of New York City for two weeks during a cholera epidemic that occurred during the summer of 1832. One day during this visit, the man is reading a book near the window revealing a scenic view of the Hudson River. His attention is focused upon the cholera epidemic nevertheless, and when he glances up from th pages of his novel, the man sees a ghastly sight in the distant hills--there an enormous creature larger than any oceangoing ship is climbing down!

Voir livre

The Psammead Trilogy

Edith Nesbit

The Psammead Trilogy, featuring Five Children and It, The Phoenix and the Carpet, and The Story of the Amulet, has enchanted audiences of all ages for decades. Experience the entire story in this one unique collection, narrated by Rosie Akerman.

Voir livre

The Battle of Life - The Lost...

Charles Dickens

The Battle of Life is an 1846 novel by Charles Dickens. It is the fourth of his five "Christmas Books", coming after The Cricket on the Hearth and followed by The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain. 
 
The setting is an English village that stands on the site of an historic battle. Some characters refer to the battle as a metaphor for the struggles of life, hence the title. 
 
Battle is the only one of the five Christmas Books that has no supernatural or explicitly religious elements. The story bears some resemblance to The Cricket on the Hearth in two respects: it has a non-urban setting, and it is resolved with a romantic twist. It is even less of a social novel than is Cricket. As is typical with Dickens, the ending is a happy one. 
 
It is one of Dickens's lesser-known works and has never attained any high level of popularity – a trait it shares with The Haunted Man, in contrast to the other of his Christmas Books

Voir livre

Persuasion

Jane Austen

The novel revolves around the life of Anne Elliot, a young woman who had rejected the proposal of her true love, Captain Frederick Wentworth, on the advice of her family and friends, who considered him beneath her in social status and fortune. Years later, Anne finds herself unmarried and regretful of her decision to refuse Wentworth's proposal. He, on the other hand, has become a successful naval captain and has acquired wealth and social status. When they meet again, Anne finds that her feelings for Wentworth have not diminished, but he appears to be indifferent towards her. Read in English, unabridged.

Voir livre