Virginia (Penguin Classics) [Mass Market Paperback]

Ellen Glasgow (Author), Linda Wagner-Martin (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1995 | Series: Penguin Classics

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Ellen Glasgow set out to write an ironic novel about Southern ladies; in the end, however, sympathy for her character Virginia took over, turning "a comedy of manners into a tragedy of human fate." The resulting novel follows Virginia through her early life as the daughter of a pastor and his submissive wife, into Virginia's romantic marriage to a handsome, dynamic man, and on to her increasingly difficult life as a wife-with-children. In contrast to Virginia is her friend Susan, caught in expectations of filial duty, who tries to find another way to live. The situations and decisions here are never easy. Is passionate love preferable to life with a steady, less exciting man? Who comes first - husband, children, or self? Is submission a necessary aspect of life as wife and mother? This novel provides no simple answers. Through the lives of Virginia and Susan, Ellen Glasgow considers and attacks the traditions and expectations of turn-of-the-century Southern society, the Church, and the feminists of her day. -- For great reviews of books for girls, check out Let's Hear It for the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14. -- From 500 Great Books by Women; review by Erica Bauermeister

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140390723
• ISBN-13: 978-0140390728
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,859,941 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed reading this book., May 26, 2010

By 

PrairieRose - See all my reviews

This review is from: Virginia (Library Binding)

Before reading Ellen Glasgow's fiction, I recommend that you read her autobiography 'Woman Within'. It will add much to the enjoyment of reading 'Virginia'. In Glasgow's autobiography, Glasgow was the 'other woman'. The main character, Virginia Treadwell, is the wronged wife in this story. I see other parallels as well. The playwright traveled to New York City to get his writing noticed. Cyrus Treadwell was portrayed in a way that resembled Ellen's own father. There is plenty of suffering for Virginia during her married life. In fact, the book goes on and on and on about that. Ellen Glasgow went on and on and on about her suffering from losses of loved ones, etc. In fact I was rather irritated about that characteristic of both the autobiography and this novel. But, after all, you cannot deny that women of that time suffered greatly again and again and again.

I enjoyed the book for its historical content. This novel allowed me to travel back to an earlier time in the Virginian South and see how people lived then. I am particularly interested in the post-civil war Virginia right now. I got a glimpse of the green shoots of women's attitudes toward equality during the 1880's - 1930's.

The characters in the book seemed very real to me. I found it an enjoyable read and plan to go check out more of Glasgow's fiction from our local library. You probably won't find her books in most libraries even though she was a Pulitzer Prize winner in 1945. But here in Virginia her books do have historic value and human interest so they are easier to borrow.