| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Product Description
Charlie Lee-Potter in The Independent on Sunday March 2005
It exerts a menacing force...we read Whipple's subtle, acutely psychologically observed novel with a sense of simmering dread.
Book Description
The main theme of They Were Sisters (1943) is that three sisters' choice of husband dictates whether they have homes, and whether, in their homes, they will be allowed to flourish, be tamed or repressed. We see three different choices and three different husbands: the best-friend, soul-mate husband of the one sister, who brings her great joy; the would-be companionable husband of another, who over-indulges and finally bores her; and the bullying husband who turns a high-spirited, naive young girl into a deeply unhappy woman. It is the last husband, Geoffrey, who is the most horrifying character in The Were Sisters.
Man's cruelty to woman is a frequent theme in Dorothy Whipple's novels, but nowhere was there more scope for man to be cruel to his wife than in Britain before the reform of the divorce laws. As Celia Brayfield writes in her Persephone Preface: 'Coupled with their financial dependence, but largely taken for granted because it would have been a fact of life for Whipple's readers, is the bitter truth that the middle-class woman of this time had almost no chance of freeing herself from a bad husband. Even after the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1937 a divorced woman suffered grave social disadvantages.' What has not changed is that some men are bullies and some women are married to them. 'Described as a woman who loves too much decades before those words became the title of a book about women drawn to dysfunctional partners, Charlotte marries Geoffrey, a boorish, hard-drinking salesman who swiftly evolves into a domestic dicator. Yet his blood-curdling sadism towards his wife and children is evoked without any physical violence or the use of a word stronger than "damn".' They Were Sisters is a compulsively readable but often harrowing novel by one of Persephone's best writers.
Man's cruelty to woman is a frequent theme in Dorothy Whipple's novels, but nowhere was there more scope for man to be cruel to his wife than in Britain before the reform of the divorce laws. As Celia Brayfield writes in her Persephone Preface: 'Coupled with their financial dependence, but largely taken for granted because it would have been a fact of life for Whipple's readers, is the bitter truth that the middle-class woman of this time had almost no chance of freeing herself from a bad husband. Even after the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1937 a divorced woman suffered grave social disadvantages.' What has not changed is that some men are bullies and some women are married to them. 'Described as a woman who loves too much decades before those words became the title of a book about women drawn to dysfunctional partners, Charlotte marries Geoffrey, a boorish, hard-drinking salesman who swiftly evolves into a domestic dicator. Yet his blood-curdling sadism towards his wife and children is evoked without any physical violence or the use of a word stronger than "damn".' They Were Sisters is a compulsively readable but often harrowing novel by one of Persephone's best writers.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
They Were Sisters is a portrait of three sisters and how the choices they make determine their happiness. Lucy marries William and has a happy, companioble relationship. Vera marries a man who worships her and finally bores her so much she has affairs and becomes progressively unhappier. Charlotte marries Geoffrey, a manipulative, tyrannical man who ruins her happiness without ever laying a finger on her. This is a superb depiction of domestic violence and the most impressive part of the book. Charlotte goes from a happy, trusting girl to a cowed, alcoholic, depressed woman, too paralysed to stand up to her husband herself or in defence of her children. I couldn't read They Were Sisters without seeing James Mason's chilling portrayal of Geoffrey in the film. Set in the 30s, when seperation or divorce meant social suicide for a woman, the novel shows just how powerful men could be. As Lucy says, "It was monstrous that such a man as Geoffrey should have such power, but there was no appeal against it." Vera's fate shows just how much of an outcast a divorced woman was. Dorothy Whipple is a wonderful writer, her strength is the emotional truth of her characters. Her novels are great reads, unputdownable. I read They Were Sisters in one long gulp, desperate to find out what happened but not wanting to get to the end.
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a hugely readable almost unputdownable novel. First published in 1943 - it contains many wonderful domestic details that set it firmly in it's time, the sister's of the title employ maids, make trunk calls, send telegrams, travel first class, and don't work. Despite the 1940's details this novel remains as topical today as it ever was. It concerns domestic violence, and the slow destruction of a once happy woman; Charlotte married to a man who turned out to be a vile bully. The effect this has on their three children is terrible, as over the course of their childhoods they become more and more cowed by their father. Charlotte's sisters, Lucy, dependable, supportive and nurturing is happily, but quietly and childlessly married to William. While Vera, beautiful and shallow, married to Brian who bores her takes little notice of her two young daughters.
This excellent Dorothy Whipple novel re published by Persephone takes a poignant look at what today might be called disfunctional families - the unhappiness of children caught up in the destruction brought about by adults is keenly felt.
Beautifully written, and sympathetically told, it is a truly engrossing read.
This excellent Dorothy Whipple novel re published by Persephone takes a poignant look at what today might be called disfunctional families - the unhappiness of children caught up in the destruction brought about by adults is keenly felt.
Beautifully written, and sympathetically told, it is a truly engrossing read.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dorothy Whipple is an extraordinary discovery, Her analysis of society and humanity is so contemporary. She drags you into a world of jealousies, abuse (physical, emotional and substances),pretensions and superficiality with such humanity that you get lost in this book. Dorothy Whipple has a following at my work - we all shared the trials and tribulations the three sisters, their children, their husbands and lovers with fervour. A forgotten author that should never be forgotten!
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
So pleased to have found this.
What a wonderful novel!! I could not put it down until I had finished and then wished I had savoured it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by KAW
Engrossing and perceptive
When their mother dies, it falls to Lucy to look after her younger siblings.
As a result, they look on her as authoritative and dull and leave her out of their escapades or,... Read more
As a result, they look on her as authoritative and dull and leave her out of their escapades or,... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Suzie
Absorbing study of marital despair.
A harrowing tale, packed with observations and insights into human behaviour, and utterly engaging - as in a thriller we continually hope, even expect, that things will change for... Read more
Published 12 months ago by mcik
By no means old-fashioned
I love Dorothy Whipple and am so glad that Persephone has rediscovered her. We no longer darn our stockings or have maids to bring us tea in bed, but the subjects of her three... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Merryn Williams
Fantastic
This book is without doubt one of the best books I have ever read. I arrived at this particular book through a roundabout route of other books in the "style of" namely some Nancy... Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2010 by JC
Fabulous
I am in a book club who have just read this wonderful book. It is very rare for us to read a book and everyone enjoy it but this was the case with They Were Sisters. Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2009 by K. Dance
An astounding discovery.
Perhaps I should add a short note to my previous review. Insert the following if you wish:
The books are all set in bucolic England before World War II with only a... Read more
The books are all set in bucolic England before World War II with only a... Read more
Published on 3 Mar 2009 by BJRPOET
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
