Wide Sargasso Sea (Penguin Modern Classics)

Read it once, quickly, as you may an 'ordinary' novel and you might struggle to finish it, at best maybe give it three stars. Read it again, slowly, study it with an appropriate text and the book really comes into it's own. Oh, this is very good. Clever, subtle, crafted. Beautifully done, with a light touch. It's a wonderfully evocative social commentary on how the stiffness of British imperialistic attitudes flounder and seem absurd in a tropical climate and setting. Likewise, it's a commentary on life and living and loving and being, on being black and being white, of male and female and power structures and sex. There's just so much going on.

Worth a try for curious readers (1/1 people found this helpful)

'Jane Eyre' is probably one of my favourite novels of all time, and when a family member lent me this prequel, I was quick to devour it.

My expectations were not high, however. I was excited about the 'Jane Eyre' BBC adaptation, and when it turned out to be outstanding and very loyal to its source material, I was keen to watch the prequel that they advertised afterwards. I was not as impressed. I found it dull and could not really connect with Bertha.

As it turns out, after reading this novella, the BBC adaptation was as loyal as the 'Jane Eyre' adaptation. It was sexy, colourful, brooding, exotic and menacing, and whilst I did not appreciate this at the time, I do after reading this. Unfortunately, this loyalty means the shortcomings of the TV adaptation are also true of this novella. It is quite difficult to feel for the heroine, like we are clearly supposed to, and the author opts to make Rochester (who, interestingly, is never named) out to be a villain, and her madness is entirely his fault.

It is a plausible exploration that aligns itself with Victorian gender politics; when women were sent to lunatic asylums for as little as depression, and then sent mad inside of them. Actually, it is highly relevant, and it gives the reader a completely different view of Bertha's story. This is a double edged sword though. As interesting as it is, and perhaps right, in many respects, it is pretty difficult to grasp the characterisation of Rochester in this manner for all the people that adored his character in 'Jane Eyre'.

Besides the character of Bertha, and the fact that this novella is a prequel, it can firmly stand on its own. Not, perhaps, as a story or something to be enjoyed, but for the thematics and how the language complements them. The narration is riddled with imagery, foreshadowing and sheer elegance. It deals with gender politics, Victorian martial laws, colonialism, race, and of course, psychology. Having said that, I would recommend reading 'Jane Eyre' before embarking on this, as much of it would be lost if you have not read 'Jane Eyre' first. It also may soil your view on Rochester for 'Jane Eyre' and give away plot details which would ruin the novel for you considerably.

If you have read 'Jane Eyre', I would not say that this is vital, but if you are curious about Bertha's character this novella fleshes her out a bit, though there is still something about her that is lacking. I felt more sympathy for her in `Jane Eyre' without all of this background to be honest.

Highly recommended. (0/0 people found this helpful)

This is a morose, but beautifully written novel. Definitely lives up to expectations. I read it through twice for full appreciation, and recommend this idea to others. I rate this 6 stars!

Dark and Delicious (0/0 people found this helpful)

This is a macabre book with a true sense of gothicism to it. I first read it as a teenager after being blown away by Jane Eyre, and hated it. Its difference from Bronte's writing and its harsh treatment of Rochester didn't sit well with me at all. Having had to read it again as part of a course recently I have to say I wasn't relishing the experience, but how wrong I was. Reading it again, with no expectation of kinship with Bronte made such a difference. This is a brilliant book, densely layered, symbolic and evocative of the tropical landscape, madness and imprisonment. It has some of the wonderful internal dialogue moments of Woolf's Mrs Dalloway, swooping through the narrative and Rhys' eye for detail and dialogue is superb. Its brooding menace is chilling and the use of imagery is stupendous. A fantastic book.

Had to read it (0/6 people found this helpful)

...for a course. I wouldn't of picked this book otherwise. I am glad we had to read it though as it introduced me to an interesting book that I wouldn't have read otherwise.
I'm not saying it is the best and most enjoying book that I have ever read but it was very interesting and well written and really worth reading.

Wide Sargasso Sea (Penguin Modern Classics)

Jean Rhys

Reader Reviews:

It grows on you - give it a chance and you will be rewarded (0/0 people found this helpful)

Worth a try for curious readers (1/1 people found this helpful)

Highly recommended. (0/0 people found this helpful)

Dark and Delicious (0/0 people found this helpful)

Had to read it (0/6 people found this helpful)

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