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    Home A to Z Writers Defoe, Daniel

    Gilded-Age Mystery and ‘The English Wife’

    Esther Lombardi by Esther Lombardi
    07/13/2022
    in Defoe, Daniel, Fiction, Mystery, Twain, Mark, Wharton, Edith, Willig, Lauren
    Reading Time: 4 mins read
    377 24
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    Bookish Snobs Strike Again — When You Won’t Read That Book

    Woman waiting on a lake pier with lantern . Surreal and romantic

    Lauren Willig’s The English Wife brings back the Gilded Age. It was a treacherous, opulent world. It immerses readers in an era immortalized by Edith Wharton, Mark Twain, and Henry James. This novel weaves a rich mix of mystery, social commentary, and female empowerment. It resonates with the #MeToo movement.

    Literary Echoes and Forbidden Territories

    Willig’s work ranks with classic novels. They challenged societal norms and explored human nature. It evokes comparisons to:

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    1. Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth: Both novels expose the dark truth behind high society’s glittering facade.

    2. Kate Chopin’s The Awakening: It explores female autonomy and the stifling nature of societal expectations.

    3. Daniel Defoe’s Moll Flanders: Exploring the resilience and resourcefulness of women in a world designed to constrain them.

    These parallels put The English Wife in a literary tradition. It dares to explore forbidden territories. It challenges readers to face uncomfortable truths about society and human nature.

    A Chilling Mystery in a Gilded World

    Set against the backdrop of a frigid winter beside a frozen lake, the novel’s atmosphere is as chilling as its plot. Willig crafts a world where the glitter of wealth and privilege cannot mask the cold reality of murder and deceit. The pure snow symbolizes the hidden secrets and lies in the characters’ lives. They wait to be uncovered.

    Illyria: Where Shakespeare Meets the Gilded Age

    Willig ingeniously borrows the setting of Illyria from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, transporting this mythical land into the Gilded Age. This literary allusion adds layers of complexity to the narrative:

    • It creates a sense of unreality, blurring the lines between fact and fiction.

    • It echoes Shakespeare’s themes of mistaken identity and the fluidity of truth.

    • It serves as a reminder that even in a seemingly perfect world, nothing is as it appears.

    Bay and Annabelle, the novel’s main characters, rule an Illyrian-inspired realm. Their gilded lives hide many secrets. Their world is a stage where every actor plays a part, and the truth is as elusive as the identities in Shakespeare’s comedy.

    Unraveling the Truth: Janie’s Quest

    At the heart of the mystery is Janie, our intrepid protagonist. With a charismatic newspaperman’s help, she seeks the truth behind the gossip, innuendo, and lies that shroud the novel’s mystery. Her journey is not just about solving a crime; it’s an exploration of:

    • The power of truth in a world built on illusions

    • The strength required to challenge societal norms

    • The courage to look beyond appearances and confront uncomfortable realities

    The English Wife: A Symbol of the Exotic and Unattainable

    The titular character, the beautiful English wife, serves as a catalyst for the novel’s events. She represents:

    • The allure of the exotic in a society obsessed with novelty

    • A challenge to the established order of New York’s elite

    • A mirror reflecting the desires and fears of those around her

    Her presence is both disruptive and illuminating. It forces characters and readers to confront their own prejudices and hidden desires.

    A Gilded Cage of Dreams and Nightmares

    Willig’s novel is ultimately a study of confinement – both literal and metaphorical. Each character is trapped in a gilded cage of societal expectations, unable to break free from the roles assigned to them. The glamour and masks of high society become suffocating, dreams are stifled, and hope seems like a distant luxury.

    As the past resurfaces to haunt the present, The English Wife becomes more than just a historical mystery. It’s a powerful comment on the cycle of oppression. It highlights the timeless fight for authenticity in a world that values appearances above all else.

    Through its rich blend of literary allusions, history, and psychology, The English Wife takes readers on a journey into the Gilded Age. It also holds up a mirror to our own time. It reminds us that, beneath any era’s glitter and gold, the human heart beats with the same desires, fears, and hopes. This truth is as relevant today as it was in the age of Wharton and Twain.

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    Esther Lombardi

    Esther Lombardi

    Esther A. Lombardi is a freelance writer and journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for an array of publications, online and offline. She also has a master's degree in English Literature with a background in Web Technology and Journalism. 

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    Categories

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      Rare & Collectible Books at AbeBooks.com
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      wooden house on a farmland during sunset

      ‘The Dead Husband Cookbook’: A Mystery That Leaves You Hungry for More

      08/04/2025
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      August’s Golden Embrace: Where Summer Dreams Meet Autumn Whispers

      08/04/2025
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