What you said about red-haired women reminded of my research on why people would wear wigs in the 17thc and 18thc. One of the reasons being hiding red hair, which was deemed ugly 😅
I enjoy the interdisciplinary focus of your highly engaging postings! The discussion of the garden exhibition featuring the key women of Bloomsbury sounds fascinating. It is very touching to think of these women who faced so many wrenching personal struggles finding this haven for cultivating connections, experiencing beauty on their terms, and locating inspiration for future artistic efforts. You have definitely made me want to read _Lady Audley_. What an interesting recasting of the traditional romance novel in its repudiation of women trapped in objectified patterns in favor of projecting female autonomy to reinvest it with a power outside of external male approval.
Thank you so much. The Bloomsbury garden exhibition has been one of my favourites this year. It has inspired me to plan a visit to see the gardens in Sussex in 2025 - something to look forward to! Lady Audley is a fascinating book, I hope you enjoy reading it in the future. I'm definitely keen to read more from Mary Elizabeth Braddon. It's very shrewd how she tests and challenges Victorian attitudes within the text, while offering a resolution that was widely acceptable to contemporary readers.
An interesting post, thank you. I have just been writing about Scottish law, and the 'not proven' verdict that is only possible in Scotland. Wilkie Collins wrote about it in 'The Law & the Lady' - not one of his best novels. Collins wrote a lot of novels, many are not very good. He is rightly remembered for his two best, 'The Moonstone' and 'The Woman in White'.
Thank you so much Kate. I've read Wilkie Collins' Armadale and The New Magdalen, but have recently started reading his books in chronological order. It's interesting to see how his writing shifted and progressed. I enjoyed Basil very much but am yet to read The Moonstone and The Woman in White. Looking forward to those. Will pop over and read your piece about Scottish law, it sounds fascinating! I have The Law and the Lady lined up for the future, probably 2025!
Thank you, I’ll let you know how I get on. I hope to make it to Woman in White by the end of the month, if there’s enough time. I keep wondering where all the time disappears to!
What you said about red-haired women reminded of my research on why people would wear wigs in the 17thc and 18thc. One of the reasons being hiding red hair, which was deemed ugly 😅
Oh really?! I didn't know that. Red hair occupies such a strange space in the cultural consciousness. I would love to research it more.
But I must say I've never liked the idea of having red hair. I've had it for a month, then got my hair blond 😅
I enjoy the interdisciplinary focus of your highly engaging postings! The discussion of the garden exhibition featuring the key women of Bloomsbury sounds fascinating. It is very touching to think of these women who faced so many wrenching personal struggles finding this haven for cultivating connections, experiencing beauty on their terms, and locating inspiration for future artistic efforts. You have definitely made me want to read _Lady Audley_. What an interesting recasting of the traditional romance novel in its repudiation of women trapped in objectified patterns in favor of projecting female autonomy to reinvest it with a power outside of external male approval.
Thank you so much. The Bloomsbury garden exhibition has been one of my favourites this year. It has inspired me to plan a visit to see the gardens in Sussex in 2025 - something to look forward to! Lady Audley is a fascinating book, I hope you enjoy reading it in the future. I'm definitely keen to read more from Mary Elizabeth Braddon. It's very shrewd how she tests and challenges Victorian attitudes within the text, while offering a resolution that was widely acceptable to contemporary readers.
Really interesting..it's a long time since I read Lady Audley...time to revisit!
Thank you Sarah! I could hardly put Lady Audley down once I started it, such an exciting read. I'm sure I will revisit it again in the future too.
An interesting post, thank you. I have just been writing about Scottish law, and the 'not proven' verdict that is only possible in Scotland. Wilkie Collins wrote about it in 'The Law & the Lady' - not one of his best novels. Collins wrote a lot of novels, many are not very good. He is rightly remembered for his two best, 'The Moonstone' and 'The Woman in White'.
Thank you so much Kate. I've read Wilkie Collins' Armadale and The New Magdalen, but have recently started reading his books in chronological order. It's interesting to see how his writing shifted and progressed. I enjoyed Basil very much but am yet to read The Moonstone and The Woman in White. Looking forward to those. Will pop over and read your piece about Scottish law, it sounds fascinating! I have The Law and the Lady lined up for the future, probably 2025!
You will love The Moonstone and The Woman in White, by far his best books. Reading in chronological order is a great idea.
Thank you, I’ll let you know how I get on. I hope to make it to Woman in White by the end of the month, if there’s enough time. I keep wondering where all the time disappears to!