Journal Entry 1 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Friday, November 18, 2011

1968 Stein and Day hardback.

AmazonUK review By Lighthouse Keeper:
This book is by the little-known (today at any rate) Mary Cholmondely and often regarded as an autobiographical novel. It is metafictional in that it is a story about a writer creating a story. In 1899 it was a best-seller.

Hester is regarded as a spinster at the age of 27 and enjoys a "romantic friendship" with her friend Rachel (they are very close friends but no more than friends). Hester is writing a second novel after being successfully received with her first offering.Hester's book is so important to her that she regards it more as her child then simply a novel, and is totally consumed by it. She lives in an enclosed world of her brother's vicarage with his family, and her brother cannot believe that Hester's work is of any use partly because she is a woman and partly because he himself is a much superior author. (In fact he is boring and repetitive - Vineta Colby writes that Hester is "as sensitive, intelligent, witty and gifted as her brother is callow, bigoted,
humourless, and stupid.")

Her family cannot understand why she is so tired all the time, and regard her as lazy but in fact she is working all the hours of the night to write her novel, as she gets no peace from her brother's family during the day. She is extremely fond of her nephew Regie but nothing compares to her work. Cholmondely herself was a passionate writer who suffered all her life from debilitating illness. Hester is frustrated by the society around her which dictates social calls as the domain of the woman, a reflection of Cholmondely's bitterness at her own lack of education perhaps. Hester's writing is of no importance to her family who believe she should do more for them, their children. Her sister-in-law Minna thinks that Hester goes out of her way to vex her, and is a little envious of Hester's grace, superior social standing and intelligence.

Within the story there is also an intriguing plotline of a bet between two men who love the same woman - whoever loses the bet must die.

An important book in the world of New Woman fiction, Hester's story is one which will capture your heart. I loved not only the story but also the setting of the Vicarage in the village of Warpington. I really recommend this book, a great read!