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A review by meganmagicmusings
The Woman of the Wolf and Other Stories by Karla Jay, Renée Vivien, Yvonne M. Klein
3.0
*I received a proof copy of this book from Gallic Books, but all views are my own*
When I pick up a book and read the following on the back cover, I just know it’s for me:
“…perhaps the finest work by sapphic poet Renée Vivien. Blending myth, fairy story and biblical tale, Vivien creates powerful portraits of strong women who stand up for what they believe in…”
Vivien was a British-born, lesbian, Symbolist poet in the early twentieth century, writing in the French language. The Woman of the Wolf and Other Stories is, you guessed it, a short story collection, all about rebellious women who speak their mind and refuse to listen to the men around them. The settings of these stories span the American West, jungles, brothels, ships, and the land of Sappho herself. Some are short retellings of the stories of well-known figures from literature. All of the tales are incredibly short and sharp, often violent and aggressive, and oozing with the language of characters who do not want to be crossed. Each woman stands out in her characterisation, despite the brevity of the story.
My one criticism of this collection is that there are a lot of outdated viewpoints when it comes to other cultures, which is sadly common in a lot of work from the early twentieth century. This is brought up in the introduction to the book, so I am glad this was actually referenced, rather than ignored.
I’d like to read more of Vivien’s work, especially her poetry, as she sounds like a fascinating figure. Her life reads like something out of a book itself, and I can’t wait to find out more about this remarkably-overlooked woman.
The Woman of the Wolf will be published by Gallic Books in November 2020! Two other selections of forgotten classics written by women will also be published by them in Autumn.
When I pick up a book and read the following on the back cover, I just know it’s for me:
“…perhaps the finest work by sapphic poet Renée Vivien. Blending myth, fairy story and biblical tale, Vivien creates powerful portraits of strong women who stand up for what they believe in…”
Vivien was a British-born, lesbian, Symbolist poet in the early twentieth century, writing in the French language. The Woman of the Wolf and Other Stories is, you guessed it, a short story collection, all about rebellious women who speak their mind and refuse to listen to the men around them. The settings of these stories span the American West, jungles, brothels, ships, and the land of Sappho herself. Some are short retellings of the stories of well-known figures from literature. All of the tales are incredibly short and sharp, often violent and aggressive, and oozing with the language of characters who do not want to be crossed. Each woman stands out in her characterisation, despite the brevity of the story.
My one criticism of this collection is that there are a lot of outdated viewpoints when it comes to other cultures, which is sadly common in a lot of work from the early twentieth century. This is brought up in the introduction to the book, so I am glad this was actually referenced, rather than ignored.
I’d like to read more of Vivien’s work, especially her poetry, as she sounds like a fascinating figure. Her life reads like something out of a book itself, and I can’t wait to find out more about this remarkably-overlooked woman.
The Woman of the Wolf will be published by Gallic Books in November 2020! Two other selections of forgotten classics written by women will also be published by them in Autumn.