The Old Wives' Tale
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Product Description
Product Description
First published in 1908, The Old Wives' Tale affirms the integrity of ordinary lives as it tells the story of the Baines sisters--shy, retiring Constance and defiant, romantic Sophia--over the course of nearly half a century. Bennett traces the sisters' lives from childhood in their father's drapery shop in provincial Bursley, England, during the mid-Victorian era, through their married lives, to the modern industrial age, when they are reunited as old women. The setting moves from the Five Towns of Staffordshire to exotic and cosmopolitan Paris, while the action moves from the subdued domestic routine of the Baines household to the siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War.
About the Author
Arnold Bennett (1867-1931) His first novel, A Man From the North, appeared in 1898 and in 1900 he finished The Grand Babylon Hotel, published in 1902, and began Anna of the Five Towns (1902), in which he first started to use the Potteries of his boyhood as a setting for his novels. The Old Wives' Tale (1908) was written in France and it was followed by the Clayhanger trilogy: Clayhanger (1910), Hilda Lessways (1911) and These Twain (1916). His works also include several plays, two volumes of short stories and several other novels.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
shattering and thought provoking.,
By Phil Robinson (Newcastle upon Tyne, England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Old Wives' Tale (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
Many books by great writers that trace the whole lives of their subjects capture your imagination and emotions effectively, but this is something special. There's something in the way Bennett writes that feels honest and real: he doesn't take the easy options in storyline and is never sentimental. As a result the characters in this novel ring true. You never think, as you may with lesser writers, 'that wouldn't happen, Sophia wouldn't do that' instead you think 'Why did she do that?' and it sets you thinking, filling in the gaps from your own experience and thus personalising the experience. The characters aren't different or special: they could be anyone, they are us... and you'll undoubtedly recognise aspects of your own life somewhere in them.In the final section of this book Bennett asks the question 'what is life for?', and I think gets as close as you can to answering it.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
'The Old Wives Tale' is up there with the best,
By Rosie Simpson "Rosie" (London England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Old Wives' Tale (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
Arnold Bennett's 'The Old Wives Tale' is well worth the read. Bennett was just as famous as the likes of JK Rowling in his time, even more famous than Viriginia Wolfe. This book is a classic, it is set in the Potteries and tells the tale of two sisters Constance and Sophia growing up in Victorian England.I do not want to give too much away about the story, but Bennett's understanding of these two totally different characters is what makes this book one of the greats.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great novel,
By
This review is from: The Old Wives' Tale (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
Arnold Bennett is a great writer, albeit long out of fashion. In this novel he follows the careers of two sisters whose lives take completely different courses. Bennett captures the world of the potteries town of "Bursley" in the second half of the 19th century, and the very different world of Paris. His characterizations, his deep compassion for people, his evocation of place, and the accessibility of his writing make this novel a joy. The introduction by John Wain is unusually helpful and insightful. I recommend this purchase thoroughly.
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