The Cambridge Introduction to Jean Rhys

Sinceherdeathin1979,JeanRhys'sreputationasanimportantmodernistauthorhasgrown.Herfinelycraftedprosefictionlendsitselftomultipleinterpretationsfromradicallydifferentcriticalperspectives;formalism,feminism,andpostcolonialstudiesamongthem.ThisIntroductionoffersareliableandstimulatingaccountofherlife,work,contextsandcriticalreception.Hermasterpiece,WideSargassoSea,isanalyzedtogetherwithherothernovels,includingQuartetandAfterLeavingMrMackenzie,andhershortstories.Throughclosereadingsoftheworks,ElaineSavoryrevealstheircommonthemesandconnectsthesetodifferentcriticalapproaches.ThebookmapsRhys'sfictionaluseoftheactualgeographyofParis,LondonandtheCaribbean,showinghowkeyunderstandingherrelationshipswiththemetropolitanandcolonialspheresistoreadinghertexts.Inthisinvaluableintroductionforstudents,SavoryexplainsthesignificanceofRhysasawriterbothinherlifetimeandtoday.