|
|
Sold Out
Book Categories |
Marian Evans—who writes under the pen name George Eliot—has come to Venice on her honeymoon. It is 1880 and she is newly married to John Cross, twenty years her junior. She has come to this city of canals and bridges to start again, to forget the death of her longtime partner, George Henry Lewes—with whom she shared twenty five years of happiness and art. In this new marriage, in this intensely romantic place, can she give herself the happy ending that she provided for Middlemarch's Dorothea Brooke?
A century later, sculptor Caroline Spingold takes us to Venice again. Scarred by her father's abandonment just after she and her parents spent a summer in the city, Caroline vowed never to return. But now her powerful, wealthy older husband has brought her back against her will, to celebrate their tenth anniversary.
Told in alternating chapters subtly linked by themes of art, love, and the challenges of marriage, The World Before Her tells of two women, their surprising similarities, and the reckoning Venice will force them to make with their desire, their memories, and their very selves.
| Price | Condition | Delivery | Seller | Action |
| $99.99 | Digital |
| WonderClub |
Lawrence Thompkins
reviewed The World Before Her on April 30, 2019
The World Before Her
People were saying now that George Eliot was conservative. It was true that she had always written looking backward over her shoulder. She looked back to throw the present into relief. She needed distance; it made memory bearable.
It is never too late to be what you might have been. ~~George Eliot
~~Venice at sunset
In The World Before Her , Weisgall introduces us to two women. Each chapter alternates between two different stories. First, we meet Marian, AKA George Eliot, in the last year of her life (1880). She is on honeymoon in Venice with her husband, John Cross. It is not a marriage of passion, but John cares for her deeply. Still in mourning for her long time lover, Marian can appreciate being cared for. Maybe it will even be enough.
The alternating chapters are set in 1980, and introduce us to Caroline Spingold. Married twelve odd years to Malcolm, they are celebrating their anniversary in Venice. The city is bitter sweet for her. As a preteen, her family went on one last family vacation in Venice before her father left her mother. Malcolm's choice is characteristic of their relationship. He thinks he knows what is best for her, and how to make her happy. His choices are superficially good ones, but below the surface Caroline is unhappy and unfulfilled. She's afraid that by complaining she will just sound like a spoiled "kept" wife. Malcolm has a high-powered career, and she left hers behind to be his helpmate. Will they be able to rekindle their love in Venice?
My two cents: Weisgall has written a lyrical novel. The prose is beautiful, but at the same time reading it felt like wading through quick sand at times. The jacket promises "the eternal dilemma of how to find love and sustain it, without losing one's self". One could argue that Marian *DID* find and sustain love, till death did them part. Her second attempt, while sanctioned by society this time, wasn't nearly as successful. As for Carolina, her story is more convoluted. I'll leave it up to you to decide whether she finds love, and whether you agree with her choices.
I am not a huge fan of split story stories. Like another reviewer, I am always tempted to skip ahead a chapter to continue to follow one story if I like it more than another. In this case, 100 years separate the two stories, making the novel feel somewhat bipolar. But while the story arc drags at times, Weisgall certainly knows how to write. At under 300 pages, this is well worth a library check out if you are fan of Eliot, a fan of Venice, or both. Given 3.5 stars or a rating of "Very Good"!!
Another good quote: "Stories arise from abrasion, from the conflict between character and circumstance, from teh volatile chemistry of emotion. You say we are evolving away from that, toward those uniform angels, who all sing the same song. Even hosanna a million times over might grow tedious. You know, I much prefer the depictions of hell."
Stuff I learned: A link to Encyclopedia Britannica 's page on George Eliot--
A link to Earth trekker's suggestion for 9 must do experiences in Venice--
Login|Complaints|Blog|Games|Digital Media|Souls|Obituary|Contact Us|FAQ
CAN'T FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? CLICK HERE!!! X
You must be logged in to add to WishlistX
This item is in your Wish List
X
This item is in your Collection
The World Before Her
X
This Item is in Your Inventory
The World Before Her
X
You must be logged in to review the productsX
X
X
Add The World Before Her, Marian Evans—who writes under the pen name George Eliot—has come to Venice on her honeymoon. It is 1880 and she is newly married to John Cross, twenty years her junior. She has come to this city of canals and bridges to start again, to forget the death of, The World Before Her to the inventory that you are selling on WonderClubX
X
Add The World Before Her, Marian Evans—who writes under the pen name George Eliot—has come to Venice on her honeymoon. It is 1880 and she is newly married to John Cross, twenty years her junior. She has come to this city of canals and bridges to start again, to forget the death of, The World Before Her to your collection on WonderClub |