Plot Summary

The Odd Women

George Gissing
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The Odd Women

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1893

Book Brief

George Gissing

The Odd Women

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1893
Book Details
Pages

416

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London, England • 1890s

Publication Year

1893

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

930L

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Super Short Summary

The Odd Women is a Victorian novel by George Gissing, first published in 1893, that follows two single women, Mary Barfoot and Rhoda Nunn, who challenge societal expectations by choosing independent lives over marriage, establish a clerical school for women, and navigate complex relationships and personal growth. Sensitive topics such as controlling relationships and alcoholism are portrayed in the book.

Melancholic

Contemplative

Gritty

Challenging

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.0

5,916 ratings

67%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

The Odd Women by George Gissing is praised for its compelling exploration of gender and societal norms in Victorian England. Readers appreciate its complex characters and insightful commentary. However, some critique its occasionally slow pacing and didactic tone. Overall, it's considered a thought-provoking and important work in feminist literature.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Odd Women?

A reader who enjoys The Odd Women by George Gissing is likely drawn to Victorian-era social commentary, feminist themes, and character-driven narratives. Fans of works like Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë or Middlemarch by George Eliot, which explore similar societal issues, would find this novel particularly engaging.

4.0

5,916 ratings

67%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

416

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London, England • 1890s

Publication Year

1893

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

930L

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