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Letters 1931-1966
In her will, Jean Rhys expressed a wish that no biography should be written unless authorized during her lifetime. Following her death, her literary executor was approached frequently with requests for permission to write "an official life". Finally he decided that, by compiling a volume of letters, authentic biographical information would be provided. But as the collection grew, the biographical aspect took on a secondary importance as the self-portrait began to reveal the turbulent process of literary creation. The final result is a portrait spanning the years from 1931 (taking up the story roughly where it was left in "Smile Please") to 1966, when the long struggle to finish "Wide Sargasso Sea" was over.
313 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
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About the author
Jean Rhys
67 books1,483 followersJean Rhys, CBE (born Ella Gwendolyn Rees Williams; 24 August 1890–14 May 1979) was a British novelist who was born and grew up in the Caribbean island of Dominica. From the age of 16, she mainly resided in England, where she was sent for her education. She is best known for her novel Wide Sargasso Sea (1966), written as a prequel to Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre.
She moved to England at the age of 16 years in 1906 and worked unsuccessfully as a chorus girl. In the 1920s, she relocated to Europe, travelled as a Bohemian artist, and took up residence sporadically in Paris. During this period, Rhys, familiar with modern art and literature, lived near poverty and acquired the alcoholism that persisted throughout the rest of her life. Her experience of a patriarchal society and displacement during this period formed some of the most important themes in her work.
She moved to England at the age of 16 years in 1906 and worked unsuccessfully as a chorus girl. In the 1920s, she relocated to Europe, travelled as a Bohemian artist, and took up residence sporadically in Paris. During this period, Rhys, familiar with modern art and literature, lived near poverty and acquired the alcoholism that persisted throughout the rest of her life. Her experience of a patriarchal society and displacement during this period formed some of the most important themes in her work.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 13, 2022
I was bought this as a birthday gift by someone who knew my fanaticism for Jean Rhys. This intimate glimpse into the personal comments of my all-time favourite writer had me mesmerised from start to finish.
The letters include those from 1931, when she was recently estranged from her first husband French-Dutch journalist-songwriter (and spy) Jean Lenglet. Jean was still enjoying the acclaim of her first three books, The Left Bank and Other Stories (1927) Postures/Quartet (1929) and After Leaving Mr. Mackenzie (1931).
Like a fly on Jean's various walls, we watch her bumpy life unravel until the 1966 death of her of her third and final husband, solicitor Max Hamer, who had spent much of their marriage jailed for fraud. Jean was now a frail old woman reduced to a life of obscurity, alone in her ramshackle West Country home. Publicly long forgotten and presumed dead, her books were mostly out of print. She was, however, on the brink of major rediscovery with the publication of Wide Sargasso Sea, which she had spent years drafting and perfecting. Unlike any of her earlier works, this final tome was a fictional perspective of the 'madwoman in the attic' from Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. It would win Jean the prestigious 1967 WH Smith Literary Award, of which she famously said: 'It has come too late'.
Like all Jean's penned words published or not, this is like sitting all alone with her, listening to a voice that speaks only the pure, haunting truth.
A remarkable, intimate journey through her life that validates and authenticates the integrity of everything she had published and explains so much more about her than we, as diehard fans, could have known.
The most beautiful birthday gift I was ever given. Truly. It will never be allowed out of my house.
As an afterthought, it's interesting that those Goodreads reviewers who don't "get" the Jean Rhys letters tend to be American, whereas her admirers appear to be British.
The letters include those from 1931, when she was recently estranged from her first husband French-Dutch journalist-songwriter (and spy) Jean Lenglet. Jean was still enjoying the acclaim of her first three books, The Left Bank and Other Stories (1927) Postures/Quartet (1929) and After Leaving Mr. Mackenzie (1931).
Like a fly on Jean's various walls, we watch her bumpy life unravel until the 1966 death of her of her third and final husband, solicitor Max Hamer, who had spent much of their marriage jailed for fraud. Jean was now a frail old woman reduced to a life of obscurity, alone in her ramshackle West Country home. Publicly long forgotten and presumed dead, her books were mostly out of print. She was, however, on the brink of major rediscovery with the publication of Wide Sargasso Sea, which she had spent years drafting and perfecting. Unlike any of her earlier works, this final tome was a fictional perspective of the 'madwoman in the attic' from Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. It would win Jean the prestigious 1967 WH Smith Literary Award, of which she famously said: 'It has come too late'.
Like all Jean's penned words published or not, this is like sitting all alone with her, listening to a voice that speaks only the pure, haunting truth.
A remarkable, intimate journey through her life that validates and authenticates the integrity of everything she had published and explains so much more about her than we, as diehard fans, could have known.
The most beautiful birthday gift I was ever given. Truly. It will never be allowed out of my house.
As an afterthought, it's interesting that those Goodreads reviewers who don't "get" the Jean Rhys letters tend to be American, whereas her admirers appear to be British.
November 8, 2022
Fascinating in all its detail of the - at times tortuous - process of writing Wide Sargasso Sea in particular and the kaleidoscopic humanity of the woman who wrote it. She is loving, affectionate, grouchy, anxious, pernickety, loyal, gullible, courageous.
I was especially moved by her short poem about her black cat Mister Wu written in 1949:
‘My black cat is a gentleman
A gentleman proud and true
He has teeth and he has claws
But he’d never use them on me.’
She won my heart with that and that’s enough.
I was especially moved by her short poem about her black cat Mister Wu written in 1949:
‘My black cat is a gentleman
A gentleman proud and true
He has teeth and he has claws
But he’d never use them on me.’
She won my heart with that and that’s enough.
October 28, 2009
Whew. I'm still waiting for Wide Sargasso Sea from my library, so I can't comment on her official writing, but what a negative negative woman. I only got through one quarter of the book and had to stop. So many people were kind to her and she couldn't see it.
August 17, 2018
I never imagined that reading someone's letters would tell so much about their life. Jean Rhys seemed to always be battling something, and reading her letters to people about her struggles made me feel sad. It is an enlightening, interesting and depressing glimpse into her life.
September 10, 2019
'... book of a glorious surprise, being like a beautiful great peach falling out of a tree and hitting one on the head'.
Also there are birds in the attic... An albatross must have got in
I am even more terrified of landlady's than I am of mice or solitude
Also there are birds in the attic... An albatross must have got in
I am even more terrified of landlady's than I am of mice or solitude
September 9, 2025
This is very much only for the superfans of Jean Rhys. I would recommend reading a biography of Rhys before this, because without that you lose out on a ton of context.
June 27, 2016
I don't read many biographies, diaries, etc. and I don't think I've ever attempted a collection of letters before. I read to half way, but I don't think letters are meant to be read like this, all in one go. In real life there were gaps of a few months between Jean Rhys' letters to her friends and her daughter, but reading them in book form, they become very samey: Rhys moaning about the cold weather and how much she dislikes England. However, there is some interesting correspondence regarding the writing of Wide Sargasso Sea. Her letters to her daughter are also very touching and affectionate. I will finish reading them one day, but at the moment I need a change.
July 31, 2011
An almost unbearable insight into the personal circumstances of Jean Rhys during the many years she took to write 'Wide Sargasso Sea'; at times the repetitive reports on her poor health and desperate financial situation make it hard to understand how she was able to write such a work of genius. Despite the gloom and doom her writing style, even in short notes to her grand-daughter, shines through. A worthy companion piece to Virginia Woolf's 'A Room Of One's Own'.
December 6, 2013
The first hundred or so pages of this book put me into such hysteria, I have to give it all the stars. The latter bits not quite as stimulating— but still!
I'm lazy and hopeless Peggy but honestly I do have a rum time.
I'm lazy and hopeless Peggy but honestly I do have a rum time.
June 11, 2008
An intimate view into an absolutely amazing author full round
April 9, 2009
good.
but you have to be really interested in her to read it, there's a lot of repetition in the letters.poor soul.
but you have to be really interested in her to read it, there's a lot of repetition in the letters.poor soul.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews