Product Description

Set against the lush backdrop of 1830s Jamaica, Jean Rhys's powerful, haunting story was inspired by the first Mrs Rochester, in Charlotte Bronte's JANE EYRE. Born into an oppressive, colonialist society, Creole heiress Antoinette Cosway meets a young Englishman who is drawn to her innocent sensuality and beauty. But soon after their marriage, rumours of madness in her family poison his mind against her. He forces Antoinette to conform to his rigid Victorian ideals, unaware that he is pushing her towards madness, and towards a terrible conclusion amongst the leaping flames at Thornfield Hall . . .

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #286842 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

About the Author
Jean Rhys was born in Domenica in 1890 but came to London when she was sixteen. She began to write after the first of her three marriages broke up, but without any particular success, perhaps because her writing was decades ahead of its time. Nearlytwenty years after her books had gone out of print, she made a sensational re-appearance in 1966 with WIDE SARGASSO SEA, which won the Royal Society of Literature Award and the WH Smith award. She died in 1979.

Customer Reviews

A different view on colonial love
Jean Rhys writes or rewrites the love-story that was never told in Brontes famous novel "Jane Eyre" between the wild native woman and the English gentleman Rochester. Through her use of different narrative language Rhys creates understanding for the lost and impossible love between Antoinette and her English husband. The love that was not understood in "Jane Eyre". This work by Rhys examines the problems as well as the beauty in mixing two so different cultures as shown in "Wide Sargasso Sea" with colourful and passionate language.

Thought provoking
This is a wonderful incredible insightful book. Imaginative narrative and powerful imagination combine to make this a truly great work of literature. I cannot recommend it highly enough.