Reviews

Dane sets out to create an evil lesbian, and in doing so show the reader the evils of lesbianism. But instead, in Clare, she creates a complex, magnetic woman, who champions education and intellectualism, and puts forth good arguments for why women don't need to get married. Though Clare is cruel and malicious, she is also an archetype of the unavailable older woman in a position of authority, and it is easy to see why the women in the book find her so attractive. Dane may have wanted to make Clare unambiguously evil, but actually she is the most interesting character in the book. It is easy to understand why this book has been regarded as a lesbian classic: the love story between Alwynne and Clare is far more compelling than the book's heterosexual ending, and though Dane may have wanted to show the evil of lesbianism, she actually creates believable and moving relationships between women. Only the heterosexual ending and Alwynne's decision to marry Roger make this story feel clunky and lacking in complexity: otherwise it's a compelling and enjoyable read.

terrimpin's review

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3.0

While it took a little time for me to get into the flow of it initially, and to suss out the characters, I really liked the twist (even if it was morbid) and the ending. I related to Louise, and her desire to strive for academic greatness to please her instructors even at the detriment of her own health.

I feel that it is important to understand while reading this that Clemence Dane is believed to have been a lesbian who went to great lengths to keep her sexuality private. It changes the way that one analyzes the relationship between Alwynne and Clare.

niche's review

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5.0

A fascinating delve into toxic friendship

I expect one's take to vary depending on whether one views class s romantic friendship as real or invention to obfuscate lesbians. In either case, the novel did inspire The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall, a significant novel in its intersection of religion and homosexuality.

Easily divided in half, the novel splits between the austere life of women's boarding schools and the relationships therein. Following Alwynne's infatuation with the toxicly domineering Claire, the tragic and emotionally starved Louise, and then the rejuvenative countryside sabbatical.

In my heterosexist reading, I greatly enjoyed the dive into characters' mental states and emotional codependencies.

briarfairchild's review

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3.0

This book would definitely have had four stars if it hadn't been for the Lesbian Bad, Heterosexual Good vibe. It's well-written and the characters are really skilfully drawn. And, frankly, it's obvious that Alwynne will be twenty times happier with Roger than with Clare; her relationship with Clare is abusive and scary. The main character is really Clare, though, and she is portrayed very cleverly: her desire for control and possession; her thought processes as she controls and manipulates her human possessions; her occasional self-awareness. As for Alwynne and Roger; he is obviously a genuinely good, caring person who loves her and wants to make her happy... Despite all this, there's a very uncomfortable message that romantic relationships between women are unhealthy and even if healthy could never ever match up to the relationship between and man and a woman. Sigh.

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