A very interesting article on the BBC website today titled Were the 'mad' heroines of literature really sane? This article is extracted from a radio show to be shown shortly where they ask medical historians, psychiatrists and literary specialists to give their diagnoses on troubled heroines including Mrs Rochester and the women in white.
This sounds quite fascinating to me and I’ll be listening to the full radio show on bbc iplayer.
I have also signed up for a challenge found here at Book-a-Rama and is called the Daphne du Maurier Challenge. Its quite easy, all I have to do is read 3 of her works (2 short stories count as one book) and this runs from May 13, 2010- April 19, 2011. Why those dates? Daphne du Maurier was born May 13, 1907 and died April 19, 1989.
I have wanted to read Rebecca for a long time and this was also my Grandmothers favourite book but I have to admit to being quite ignorant of Daphne du Maurier’s other works. If anyone has any recommendations of her novels or short stories then please let me know.
Finally we have an award from Whitney at She is too fond of books – thankyou Whitney.
A prolific blogger is one who is intellectually productive, keeping up an active blog with enjoyable content. Well there are two of us contributing to this blog so we do have an unfair advantage ;)
After accepting this award recipients are asked to pay it forward to seven other deserving blogs, and here they are...
The Book Mole
Pen & Paper
One persons Journey through books
CozyBookNook
And the plot thickens.....
All lit up
At home with books
That is a very interesting article on "mad" heroines in literature. There is also one in Rebecca, although is probably not considered the star of the novel.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the award! Thanks for sharing it with me - that was so thoughtful of you!
ReplyDeleteYou deserve this award!
ReplyDeleteI read about this challenge from Whitney and am considering it. Currently I'm read Jane Eyre and really enjoying it.
Thank you! Kim just passed this one to Mrs. BG's Cozy Book Nook too and I was going to pass it on to you guys! Isn't that funny?! Whitney beat me to it-- drat!
ReplyDeleteI've always tried to figure out the mental/personality disorders of the mad characters in books --- hope you'll share any other fascinating tidbits you learn from the radio show.
Been years since I read Jane Eyre and had forgotten the wife bayed at the moon--- that must have been the inspiration for the mash-up Jane Slayre--- I read that the wife is a werewolf--- Must try one of those mash-ups sometime.
Thanks for joining the challenge. My favorite short stories are The Birds & The Apple Tree. They have a nature strikes back theme to them.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the award!
Congratulations on your award and mny thanks for thinking of me. I look forward to visiting the other blogs you mention. Good luck with your challenge.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your award, and thank you for the link. I always forget to look at radio schedules.
ReplyDeleteAnd, since you ask, I love Daphne Du maurier and there are no real duds, but I'd particularly recommend My Cousin Rachel, The House on the Strand and pretty much any of the short stories.
Lesa - the radio sho was interested but didnt give much more insight than the article. It was interesting seeing how the attitude towards mad people were reflected in books at the time. During the period Jane Eyre was written people were looking towards a much more enlightned future for mad people. Charlotte Bronte was therefore looking back as Mrs Rochester was locked up in the attic.
ReplyDeleteThe women in white was based on a real case at the time which caused scandel and also highlighted how easy it was for husbands to lock away their wifes.
Alot of the people interviewed said Madame Bovery read very much like a case study but she was not mad.
Whitney - I have just purchased Rebecca to read for the challenge so looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteKim - you would find the artcle interesting then after reading Jane Eyre, they even got a doctor to give his verdit on what treatment he would give to Mrs Rochester!
fleurfisher - thats funny I was look at My cousin Rachel and was wondering about that one! so that one will now form part of the challenge. If I like those Ill move onto the Strand.
I do hope you'll enjoy Rebecca - it's one of my all time favourites. Daphne du Maurier's Cornish novels are the ones I like best but I might try some short stories for the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI like your blog very much and have enjoyed reading some of your posts - have added myself to your followers.
Congratulations, and thanks so much for the award!
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of Daphne du Maurier and have read almost all of her books. I particularly liked Rebecca, My Cousin Rachel, and I'll Never Be Young Again. Jamaica Inn was good too, great descriptions of Cornwall.
Her short stories are almost all great. I enjoyed The Apple Tree collection and The Breaking Point collection best.
Congrats on the award, and thank you for thinking of us! It was really nice, especially as we're quite a new blog.
ReplyDeleteNot that we've been very prolific lately, as I've been stranded with no internet for work (which is also why we're very belatedly getting back to you). Back on track now!