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Bezig met laden... In Love with George Eliot (2019)door Kathy O'Shaughnessy
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Meld je aan bij LibraryThing om erachter te komen of je dit boek goed zult vinden. Op dit moment geen Discussie gesprekken over dit boek. "....in her ostracized life... so aware of being held in dispute - writing had offered the freedom to speak, which felt beautiful... she, the anonymous Marian Evans, spoke to the reader. In real life she spoke to so few people"... ...Well, that was at first of course, when she was judged by her peers for living with a man without being married. Because when she became famous for her writing (under the name of George Eliot), while still living with George Lewes in illegitimate relationship, there were those regular, wonderful Sundays at their house where "life was lived on no ordinary level", where one could encounter Dickens, Thackerey, Henry James and other distinguished minds from all spectrum of learned fields, where "they were nurturing their minds as other people watered their gardens".... This is a worthy piece of historical fiction, in which the author justifiably draws on the numerous biographies of George Eliot (Marian Evans), as well as the writer's diaries. The title is most appropriate, as the author concentrates on Marion Evans's extraordinary relationship with George Lewes - the two of them undeniably a rare case of two kindred souls that cannot fail to warm anybody's heart by their example; no amount of scandal incited by the society that looked down on their unconventional union could stop them from being together. It's really hard to imagine a more rewarding relationship... There is also a reference to pure adoration Evans invoked in at least one young woman, Edith Simcox, and strong feelings of love from a couple of other women, her friends. And - last but not least - her relationship with John (Johnny) Cross, 20 years her junior, who had been a great friend for years and whom, after George Lewes's death, she finally married in full legitimacy (legitimacy which was denied to her in her life with George). What comes through for me from the beginning are two things: Marian's insecurity ("she was so sensitive to put-downs", always re-thinking what she said in a conversation, etc.) - even in the face of her genius as a writer; and, second, George Lewes being her utmost champion throughout their life together, her "most percipient critic" and an extraordinary soul mate, who was tuned to her every thought and feeling, and who "had the surest instinct". In this book, there is another line that swerves in between chapters on Marian's life: it's a subplot describing a modern day lady professor writing a book about George Eliot based on the latter's diary. It does not distract from the main plot but gives it an interesting look from the side. I have read only two novels by George Eliot - "Adam Bede" and "Middlemarch", the latter being my favorite of the two... This novel about her life intrigued me, so I will be definitely reading more, and with different eyes, too... Deze bespreking is geschreven voor LibraryThing Vroege Recensenten. I wavered between liking, loving and finding the story too tedious. Learning about George Eliot a/k/a Marion Evans was interesting as she was unconventional and extremely talented. The alternating current day story was merely a distraction as it added nothing to the story. I loved the story of Eliot/Evans, the inclusion of real literary characters, and her relationship with Lewes. I could recommend because it made me want to read some of her work and find out more about her life. That is always a plus for me.... geen besprekingen | voeg een bespreking toe
Prijzen
"Marian Evans is a scandalous figure, living in sin with a married man, George Henry Lewes. She has shocked polite society. In secret, though, she has begun writing fiction under the pseudonym George Eliot. As Adam Bede's fame grows, curiosity rises. Gradually it becomes apparent that the moral genius Eliot is none other than the disgraced woman. Now celebrity begins. The world falls in love with her. She is the wise and great writer, sent to guide people through the increasingly secular, rudderless century. Public opinion shifts. Her scandals, forgiven. But this idyll is not secure and cannot last. When Lewes dies, Evans finds herself in danger of shocking the world all over again. Meanwhile, in another century, two women compete to arrive at an interpretation of Eliot as writer and as woman"-- Geen bibliotheekbeschrijvingen gevonden. |
Deelnemer aan LibraryThing Vroege RecensentenKathy O'Shaughnessy's boek In Love with George Eliot was beschikbaar via LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Actuele discussiesGeenPopulaire omslagen
Google Books — Bezig met laden... GenresDewey Decimale Classificatie (DDC)823.92Literature English & Old English literatures English fiction Modern Period 2000-LC-classificatieWaarderingGemiddelde:
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Marian Evans was one of the consummate masters of English prose. I'm sad that her story is being told by a person who has no feeling for the language and whose prose is barely competent at best. This reads like a first draft. The first paragraph illustrates my point.
The train had shuddered to a halt. Clatter of doors opening and shutting, noise echoing in the huge vault of Euston station, a smell of oil-flavoured steam and soot. A last door opens, and a woman neither young nor old, slightly round-shouldered, descends to the platform. She looks round, possibly she is short-sighted: a tall man walks towards her. Everything about his stride and the way he greets her suggests a contrasting certainty and vigour.
I apologize to ER for taking a book from somebody who could read that paragraph without reaching for a red pencil. I just can't.