Review: Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
Title: Wide Sargasso Sea
Author: Rhys, Jean
Length: 156 pages
Genre: Fiction
Publisher / Year: Penguin Classics / 2000, first published in 1966
Source: Chapters
Rating: 4.5/5
Why I Read It: Our May read for Year of Feminist Classics.
Date Read: 21/05/12
In this book Rhys takes us on the imagined journey of Rochester (from Jane Eyre) and his first wife, who shows up in Bronte’s classic as the mad woman in the attic. Here we get the full story of Antoinette Cosway, the beautiful Creole woman on the lush Caribbean island, her family troubles and her eventual marriage – and its disintegration. The novel truly discusses a lot of important issues, including class, race, language, mental illness, and the ways in which women have been controlled through history.
Through the examination of wealth, especially after the abolishment of slavery and the loss of livelihood for many of the families, Rhys tackles the intersection of race and class and how the poorer Creoles could be maligned by all, though still rely on the labour of the black population to keep them alive. The gulf between the Creoles and the English gentry from England indeed seems wide, by times, and I think she really did a great job of bringing all these distinctions to light.
Through both Antoinette’s mother and Antoinette herself, we see the ways in which women have had to rely on themselves through history, and how this can either lead to mental instability or simply be termed as that by others wishing to exert control. Rochester truly does try to control and break her, and as we know from Jane Eyre, he succeeds.
A fantastic read that I would recommend to any who are interested in feminism and women’s rights, in classics and Jane Eyre, or just in a great story.
I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while now. The use of a classic novel to facilitate a discussion on such important issues as race and female inequality hopefully draws in a wider audience.
I hope that it does as well Jenna. I didn’t know what to expect going in to the book, but yes, she does such a great job of bringing up fantastic issues. I hope you get a chance to read it!
Amy, I love Jean Rhys. She is one of my favorite authors. So glad you read this one and enjoyed it! This book is soooo good – it is one of my favorites!
I can see why she would be a favorite Nadia! I really want to read more by her now.
I’ve read Rhys’s book Quartet, and wasn’t overly impressed, but everyone says that Wide Saragasso Sea is her masterpiece. I know I’ll have to tackle it someday. And it does sound interesting.
I’m sorry to hear you weren’t impressed with Quartet, Julie. This is her most famous book for sure, so maybe you would have more luck with it. I hope if you do, you enjoy it more!
I have been wanting to read this also. I’m glad to see more work on Creoles coming out lately, too!
It really is fantastic isn’t it Jill? I’ve not read many others, I don’t think, but glad I could get this slightly older book in.
Looks like a wide range of topics discussed in the book. And at only 156 pages. Lovely.
It really is Geosi! Short but magnificent.
I only read Jane Eyre last year, but even before reading it, I knew that I had to read this book. I am so glad that I am ready for it now and that it discusses such interesting and important topics. I liked they way you said just enough about the book without giving many spoilers. This might make a great fall read for me when things start cooling down. Nice review!
I hope that you really enjoy it Zibilee
I struggled with this only because I had a hard time separating it from Jane Eyre…I couldn’t get over the discrepancies between the two books. Maybe if I’d read it before Jane Eyre it would’ve gone better, because I could appreciate where she was going with the issues, I just couldn’t get past my preconceived notions of Rochester.
That makes sense Jill, I read Jane Eyre years and years ago, so really had nothing to fall back on or compare it to.
I’ve been meaning to read this for ages now. Thanks for the reminder!
You are most welcome Stephanie
I love Jane Eyre so I was trepidatious when my old reading group picked it, but I actually really enjoyed it. Rhys doesn’t try to ape Bronte’s style at all, but somehow her Rochester is believably the same man. And as you point out, plenty for a reading group to discuss!
So glad to hear that you enjoyed it Nose in a Book
SO much to discuss, I’m kind of jealous that you read it with an in person group for discussions!
Sounds like a fine book to read: I do believe that issues raised are quite relevant and loaded even for today’s feminist leanings. Thanks
Really an interesting and fun read readinpleasure, and as Jenna mentioned above, her use of the retelling of a much loved (by some, not so much by me!) classic might get more people reading it and thinking about the issues.
Thanks for reminding us of this book, which I’d like to reread to refresh my memory of it.
You are most welcome harvee!
I *need* to make time for this this summer! I read Rhys in college and loved the book (Leaving Mr. Mackenzie); in fact it’s one of the few college reads I’ve kept over the years. What the heck is my problem that it’s taking for freaking ever to get to Wide Sargasso Sea? LOL
I really want to read more by Rhys after this one, because it really just bowled me over it was so amazing. I have the same problem in reading books and authors I really mean to! Hard to find the time isn’t it? And I’m always scared of running out of more by them to read.
You know, I read this in university but had never read Jane Eyre. I wonder if I still have my copy because a reread is in order!
I read Jane Eyre long ago, but really don’t remember it Kailana.
I have this one languishing on the shelves. On a side note, I have it in my head as Wild instead of Wide, and I just can’t get it right!
Funny enough, Trish, when you mentioned that I had to go and double check the actual title. I keep getting it mixed up too!
Can I ask whether reading this affected your feelings about Jane Eyre? Several people have told me that they never felt the same way about Mr. Rochester after they read this book, and that’s why I’ve never read it myself. I’m too scared I wouldn’t be able to keep loving Jane Eyre as I do.
It’s been awhile since I read Jane Eyre, so I’m not sure Jenny. When I get around to picking it up again, though, I’ll let you know! To be honest I don’t really recall JE much. Understandable about being scared of changing your opinion, though it really was a great read
I can’t believe I still haven’t read this – like Jenny, I’m afraid it’s going to interfere with my own love for Jane Eyre. But I don’t think that should stop me any longer.
I hope that it doesn’t Jenny, I hope that it instead just makes your reading of JE that much more interesting
I’ve heard of this book, but didn’t know what it was about. Thanks for posting this review.
You are most welcome Heather.
Is it really just 156 pages??!! I thought it is going to be as long as Jane Erye! That’s do-able because I have short attention span now.
Yep, sometimes short is best JoV
I’m just re-reading this book for my book group meeting next week. I think the first time round I liked it but don’t recall much except for luscious greenery and wild colour of Jamaica which mirrored Antoinette’s persona. This time round, I’m beginning to see what a genius Jean Rhys is as a writer.
Yes I think I would get so much more out of it on further readings Sakura. Such a fantastic writer!
I’ve been meaning to read this one for some time now. I always thought Rochester was a bit of an ass…never did understand what Jane saw in him… looks like I wasn’t alone.
Heehee that is so true Tolmsted. It’s great to get a whole book to show why you were right isn’t it?