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Wide Sargasso Sea

By Jean Rhys
Penguin Classics
Series: Penguin Clothbound Classics
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3.59 goodreads logo

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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys is a prequel to Jane Eyre, reimagining the life of Bertha Mason, the enigmatic "madwoman in the attic." Set in the lush, turbulent landscapes of post-emancipation Jamaica and later England, the novel explores themes of identity, colonialism, and madness through the experiences of Antoinette Cosway as she grapples with her Creole heritage and complex marriage to an Englishman. Rhys intricately blends romance and tragedy, offering a poignant critique of imperial and gender dynamics.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by reimagined classic stories, as it serves as a prequel to Charlotte Brontë's famous novel. It's perfect for readers who appreciate rich, evocative prose and want to explore themes of identity, colonialism, and the complexities of cultural intersections. The lush Caribbean setting and the exploration of a character's descent into madness add depth and intrigue to the narrative.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A gorgeous clothbound edition of Jean Rhys's great masterpiece of desire and madness in the Caribbean.

Jean Rhys's late masterpiece Wide Sargasso Sea was inspired by Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, and is set in the lush, beguiling landscape of Jamaica in the 1830s. Born into an oppressive, colonialist society, Creole heiress Antoinette Cosway meets a young Englishman who is drawn to her innocent sensuality and beauty. After their marriage, the rumours begin, poisoning her husband against her. Caught between his demands and her own precarious sense of belonging, Antoinette is driven towards madness.

Series: Penguin Clothbound Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys is praised for its vivid, lyrical prose and its powerful, feminist reimagining of the backstory to Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. Critics often highlight Rhys's ability to capture the complex themes of cultural identity, colonialism, and madness, offering a poignant perspective from the viewpoint of Bertha Mason, the "madwoman in the attic". The novel is celebrated for deepening the reader's understanding of Brontë's work while standing alone as a compelling, haunting narrative.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241281901

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 06 October 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Andrea Ashworth

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 135.0mm

Height: 205.0mm

Weight: 292g

Pages: 192

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction Jean Rhys Literary Fiction Mother's Day Fiction Mother's Day Gifts Penguin Books Penguin Classics Penguin Classics: General Fiction Series: Penguin Clothbound Classics

About the Author

Jean Rhys was born in Dominica in 1894. After arriving in England aged sixteen, she became a chorus girl and drifted between different jobs before moving to Paris, where she started to write in the late 1920s. She published a story collection and four novels, after which she disappeared from view and lived reclusively for many years. In 1966 she made a sensational comeback with her masterpiece, Wide Sargasso Sea, written in difficult circumstances over a long period. Rhys died in 1979.

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