I’m probably in the minority, but for me, this isn’t about the ‘love’ story at all.
It’s probably fair to say that Rhys hated England and hated if not the whole of Brontë’s book, then certainly what it did to the inconvenient wife from the West Indies. If they think it’s some sort of early example of fan fiction… well, hate-fiction might be a more accurate term. If people come looking for romance, this is the wrong place. It’s the story of Mr Rochester and his first wife, the madwoman in the attic.Īfter reading it, I wonder whether this description does the book more harm than good. As I’m sure you’re aware, Rhys’ most famous work is often called the prequel to Jane Eyre. Martinique itself is mentioned in Wide Sargasso Sea as the birth place of Antoinette Cosway’s/Bertha Rochester’s mother. That too was partly Athill’s doing, as she has written eloquently and insightfully about several Caribbean islands including Dominica – the home of Jean Rhys. Still, I did not read the book until I travelled to Martinique. The idea of a person so inept at life – addicted to alcohol, horribly poor, mentally unstable, and not very nice, really – being so good at writing was fascinating. In her memoirs, she speaks about Jean Rhys with such clarity and emotion that I could not help but be intrigued. This text is designed for use by GCSE, A-level and first year undergraduate students on English literature courses.I would possibly never have read Wide Sargasso Sea if it wasn’t for Diana Athill. Key features include: a biography of the author literary and historical background to the work a summary and glossary of the text a specimen essay and suggestions for further reading. The series covers major works from medieval to modern English literature, and classic and contemporary works from Europe, America, the Commonwealth and the Third World. Information on the author and the historical background to the text is given and a specimen essay, hints for study and a summary of the text is included.
The books provide criticism on specific texts plus questions. This series of notes for GCSE and A level is tailored to exam requirements. Set in Jamaica, this work paints a portrait of a young girl doomed by society, the past and the future to become the most notorious madwoman in English literature. "Wild Sargasso Sea" is Jean Rhys's story of Antoinette Cosway, the first "Mrs Rochester" of Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre".
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