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Title:
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Wifedom |
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Authors:
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Funder, Anna |
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Genre:
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Non Fiction |
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Pages:
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464 |
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Year:
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2023 |
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Language:
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English |
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Description:
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When Eileen O'Shaughnessy married Eric Blair in 1936, little did she realise the vital role she would play in influencing her husband's literary legacy and the political truths he would extoll while writing as George Orwell.
Incorporating Eileen's actual letters to her best friend, and with a daring blend of memoir, literary detective work and the fictional reconstruction of the Orwell's marriage, this is the brilliant and captivating story of a forgotten wife of a famous man, restored and acknowledged.
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Categories:
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Non-fiction, Biography, War theme, Feminism, Gender Issues, Literature oriented, England, UK, 2025 Titles |
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Reviews
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By: BLENH 031
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2025-07-25 14:41:48 |
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This book we didn't all finish. This was due to the love- hate view of the 'story line' of the book we had amongst ourselves. That centred around George Orwell's view of the world and perceived treatment of his wife and females. That said, the author, her style of writing, and research is highly recommended. |
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By: JERV 001
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2025-07-18 09:13:04 |
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Details of the relationship between Orwell and Eileen O'Shaughnessy, while not enjoyable, held some fascination. Funder writes a scholarly thesis to explore the significance of Eileen's contribution and worth as a wife and muse to Orwell the writer and Eric Blair the man and husband. It's not possible to know fact from fiction. Funder reimagines conversations based on a set of 6 letters and anecdotal comments from close friends and associates. The layout is not linear. It challenges the reader to know whose voice is speaking. It is provocative, subjective and will generate controversy. |
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By: AUCK 285
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2025-06-11 10:27:23 |
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We didn't all finish the book but were fascinated by it. The mix of fictionalised history and the writer's parallel issues, a different take on the adulation that George Orwell has, and uncovering the tragic, unrecognised life that his wife Eileen O' Shaughnessy had - putting all her efforts into supporting George's Orwell's writing and diminishing her own actions. Important for themes that resonate still in the lives of women today. But an overly long, highly detailed book - could have been much shorter as the point was made (over and over again). |
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By: TAUP 004
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2025-05-07 11:35:49 |
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Well liked and respected for the journey Eileen suffered, and for Anne Funder's astonishing research. |
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By: WELL 008
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2025-04-03 11:38:06 |
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Overall a positive response. The beginning was off putting for several readers. We enjoyed the scholarship of the author, and were very surprised at how unsympathetic ( narcissistic) Orwell was. A lot of animated discussion about his wife's role and acceptance of his self centred behaviour. |
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By: AUCK 038
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2025-02-26 14:02:57 |
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Not sure how to score this one - half the group loved it and the other half couldn't get into it at all! |
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By: AUCK 027
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2025-02-26 11:47:02 |
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Excellent book - very complicated and well-written. Brilliantly researched and well linked together. Huge insights into male/female relationships. |
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