Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
This novel is a postcolonial prequel to "Jane Eyre," exploring the life of Mr. Rochester's mad wife, Bertha. Set in Jamaica during the 1830s, it follows the story of Antoinette Cosway, a white Creole heiress, from her youth in the Caribbean to her unhappy marriage and move to England. Caught in a society that both rejects and exoticizes her, Antoinette is ultimately driven into madness by her oppressive husband and the haunting legacy of colonialism.
The 136th greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- 2nd on The 50 best books of the past 100 years (The Times)
- 13th on 100 Best Novels in English Since 1900 (Counterpunch)
- 53rd on The 100 Greatest British Novels (BBC)
- 53rd on Koen Book Distributors Top 100 Books of the Past Century (themodernnovel.com)
- 79th on The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read (Telegraph)
- 81st on Radcliffe's 100 Best Novels (Radcliffe Publishing Course)
- 89th on 100 Best Books to Read by Women Authors (Good Housekeeping)
- 94th on The Modern Library | 100 Best Novels (Modern Library)
- 662nd on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 87 Books Written by Women That Are So Good, You Won't Be Able to Put Them Down (Pop Sugar)
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- 100 Novels That Shaped Our World (BBC)
- 40 Essential Feminist Books to Read for Women's History Month (Harpers Bazaar)
- The Best Classics (The Times)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels (TIME Magazine)
- The New York Public Library's Books of the Century (New York Public Library)
- Best Books (Fiction, Prose) : Experts Choose Their Favourites (The Book "Best Books")
- The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950 (The Modern Library (Book))
- 100 Great 20th Century English-language Works of Fiction by Women (Feminista!)