H G Wells is aggravating again: The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman

The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman was published in 1914, and is the story of Ellen Sawbridge who marries her older suitor Isaac Harman when she is 18. He delays the wedding by a few weeks so that the announcement of his knighthood in the Birthday Honours will appear on their wedding day, making her … Continue reading H G Wells is aggravating again: The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman →

Suffragette fiction by Constance Maud: No Surrender

Suffragette fiction was written to persuade, as well as entertain. It is essentially polemic, and I've had a tough time persuading students to read it as literature rather than ranting politics from an age long gone. Let me hone my persuasion techniques on you, using another Really Like This Book podcast script catch-up, by enthusing … Continue reading Suffragette fiction by Constance Maud: No Surrender →

Mrs Ames: not Lucia

E F Benson was stretching his talons in this novel. You'd think, from first glance, that this was a tryout for Mapp and Lucia. Although it's from 1912, there are dinner party wars, stunts to bring the other middle-class and servanted neighbours on side, and hurried impromptu fancy-dress ball preparations. But Mrs Ames is not … Continue reading Mrs Ames: not Lucia →