A Superfluous Woman
Gelesen von Bruce Pirie
Emma Francis Brooke
(4,333 Sterne; 12 Bewertungen)
Published anonymously in 1894, “A Superfluous Woman” quickly became one of the most widely read of the “New Woman” novels that appeared at the end of the 19th century. At the opening of the story, we find Jessamine Halliday, a pampered young aristocrat, languishing and apparently close to death. Her desperate family has called in a maverick doctor, who recognizes that she suffers from the idleness and listlessness too often experienced by upper-class English women. The only “medicine” she needs is a change of thinking and new self-awareness. Accordingly, the doctor coaches her to think more critically about her role as a woman and about the uses of meaningful labor. (Partly, this doctor is a spokesperson for the author: Emma Brooke was prominently engaged in feminist and socialist thought.)
Jessamine tries to radically re-invent herself by fleeing London (and a looming high-society marriage), to seek humble work as a farm helper in Scotland. It turns out, however, that it is not so easy to cast off the assumptions and controls of a lifetime. (Summary by Bruce Pirie) (11 hr 6 min)
Chapters
Bewertungen
One if the best novels
S. Lupton
(5 Sterne)
This is an incredible story of a woman. It is an ageless calling of what a true and beautiful nature defined her. And the love she lived grew in her life for the only man that could never be hers, only because of the social norms that did not allow her to be free and true to her feelings and actions.
Very good reader and story.
Joyce
(4,5 Sterne)
Superfluous:marked by wastefulness : EXTRAVAGANT. Was she or wasn't she Superfluous? A good book to listen to while doing some spring cleaning. Very clear reader with an interesting pronunciation of Superfluous. Thank you.
Angeles
(5 Sterne)
What a book! I couldn't stop listening. Excellent reader. The story didn't have the ending I was expecting.
Granny G
(4 Sterne)
Very interesting. My tears at the conclusion were unexpected.