A stunning novel about two women and two marriages -- George Eliot at the end of her life, and another woman a century later.The year is 1880 and t...
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Jun 26, 2008
Gina
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What I learned from this book? For starters, Deborah Weisgall is a new and wonderful world of an author. Then, I learned to love George Eliot as a person and author more than before. Ms. Weisgall makes an attempt to score an 11 on a 10 vault and lands it with no problem. One thread of the book begins with Marian Evans Lewes Cross on her honeymoon in Venice with her very virginal husband, twenty years her junior, who she calls Johnnie. Johnnie is virginal and married to an adored Mother
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Dec 16, 2010
Shannon
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The World Before Her is that rare book on my reading list: one that I found on the shelf at the library, with no recommendation from a friend, blog or newsletter. It started well enough, but didn't deliver enough on the themes that held promise.
The book alternates between a tale of George Eliot during the months of her marriage late in life to a much younger man and the story of the marriage of a young sculptor to a financier. As a friend of mine pointed out, this is a difficult st More...
The book alternates between a tale of George Eliot during the months of her marriage late in life to a much younger man and the story of the marriage of a young sculptor to a financier. As a friend of mine pointed out, this is a difficult st More...
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Feb 12, 2010
Reagan
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I was convinced i would like this because it is partly biographical of Marian Evans (who wrote as George Eliot), and her latter day trip to Venice. But i didn't like it. For a very interesting premise, it read terribly pedestrian and predictable. The premise, then: There are two stories that flip back and forth, Marian Evans as an older woman when she finally "legitimated" her life by getting married...unfortunately to someone she wasn't remotely in love with.
the second sto More...
the second sto More...
Oct 11, 2009
Marian
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I have a hard time resisting novels set in Venice; this, combined with a parallel story line evocative of Byatt's Possession, and a recommendation from a dear friend, prompted me to open The World Before Her.
I was fascinated by Weisgall's recreation of George Eliot's late marriage and last years. However, despite the author's captivating imagined recreation of a literary luminary, I found this novel to be a disappointment. Weisgall contrasts the lives and choices of two women; one his More...
I was fascinated by Weisgall's recreation of George Eliot's late marriage and last years. However, despite the author's captivating imagined recreation of a literary luminary, I found this novel to be a disappointment. Weisgall contrasts the lives and choices of two women; one his More...
Jul 31, 2009
Jennifer
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The book starts with Marion Evans and then each chapter alternates thereafter. I thought that would be confusing but the length of the chapters is perfect. Just enough information about the woman and her particular situation before pausing for the other woman's installment.
Although these women are separated by 100 years, they are experiencing the same situation. Their marriages have 20 year age differences, and both have learned things about their spouses that causes them to reflect on the More...
Although these women are separated by 100 years, they are experiencing the same situation. Their marriages have 20 year age differences, and both have learned things about their spouses that causes them to reflect on the More...
Jun 26, 2011
Nan
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Excellent novel with parallel stories of the marriages of two women, both artists, who visit Venice 100 years apart. In 1880 Marian Evans Cross, better known to the world as George Eliot, is on her honeymoon. She has, to the world's surprise, married her much-younger financial adviser relatively soon after the death of her longtime partner, George Lewes. In 1980, Caroline Spingold is in Venice at the behest of her much older and controlling husband, Malcolm, who is afraid she is reclaiming her i
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Apr 10, 2009
Have just started this but am slow getting into to it. Hope the pace picks up.
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Aug 07, 2008
Lillian
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This book started out so brilliantly that I was convinced it was going to end up being one of my favorite novels. Weisgall re-imagines author George Eliot's honeymoon in Venice following the death of her longtime lover George Lewes and her subsequent marriage to a young admirer. What made this premise intriguing was the contrast between her new relationship and the old, underscored by Eliot's memories of her past visit to Venice with Lewes. Eliot had shared a joyful relationship with George Lewe
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Aug 12, 2008
Sherry
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AMAZON
From Publishers Weekly
Two women in Venice, separated by a century, search for love and identity in the latest from novelist (Still Point) and memoirist (A Joyful Noise) Weisgall. It opens as Marian Evans—aka Mary Ann Evans, aka the novelist George Eliot (1819–1880)—is on her 1880 honeymoon in Venice with Johnnie Cross, who is 20 years her junior. Evans is trying, after a long and scandalous love affair with fellow author George Lewes, to have a normal marriage. One hundred year More...
From Publishers Weekly
Two women in Venice, separated by a century, search for love and identity in the latest from novelist (Still Point) and memoirist (A Joyful Noise) Weisgall. It opens as Marian Evans—aka Mary Ann Evans, aka the novelist George Eliot (1819–1880)—is on her 1880 honeymoon in Venice with Johnnie Cross, who is 20 years her junior. Evans is trying, after a long and scandalous love affair with fellow author George Lewes, to have a normal marriage. One hundred year More...
Jun 25, 2011
Cate
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A moving exploration of fading love and the bitterness of endings. George Eliot discovers the man she married doesn't understand who she is, and she struggles with the various social and personal pressures he brings to bear to make her conform to his image of her as a wise and proper Victorian lady. In 1980, the entirely fictional Caoline Spingold struggles with her emerging maturity as a woman and a sculptor agains her dominating husband's desire that she stay "soft" and trusting.
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Apr 03, 2011
Pam
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Love in Venice: The City as Character & Catalyst - I was 'amused' to read reader reviews of this on Amazon which ALL seemed to focus on the character 'George Eliot' and completely MISSED/IGNORED the 'character' of Venice ... One CANNOT, just cannot read of Venice and not understand that it is not happenstance that the author would use this to place the story. Perhaps the readers have not been there - alas.
Apr 30, 2010
Patricia
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I picked this up at the Gardner Museum and read it because it contains several elements I find intriguing in a novel: a basis in art, parallel stories between a current and an historical figure, Venice locations, etc. It is beautifully written and I enjoyed much of it but the overwhelming bleakness of the women's marital states wore on me and I ended up not liking it as much as I'd hoped.
Dec 11, 2008
Erin
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The plot was interesting, but the passages were to flowery for me. I prefer short and concise thoughts. The thought processes of the characters are too jumpy and ill-contrived. It is sometimes difficult to understand when and where or even what they are doing.
If you are interested in reading about Marian Evan/George Eliot--you might find this interesting. But I didn't.
If you are interested in reading about Marian Evan/George Eliot--you might find this interesting. But I didn't.
Jan 29, 2009
Leslie
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Serendipitously - as often happens with books, for instance, McCarthy's The Rpad and Craces The Pesthouse - this appeared at the same time as Kathryn Walker's A Stopover in Venice. Weisgall's imagining of Marian Evans' brief second marriage parallels a sculptor's marriage in the recent past. The scenes of George Eliot (as she is better known) are wel-researched and ring true; the scenes of Venice are tantalizing as well as accurate, and the story of Caroline Edgar Spingold, Weisgall's wholly fi
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Aug 10, 2011
The premise of this novel - art, love, and marriage, sounded so promising. However, it failed to deliver. I think that's the danger of writing fiction about real people - the story is already written. I wanted George Eliot to have a hot steamy Venetian affair with Whistler, but all that happened in Venice was her new husband fell into a canal.
Jan 04, 2011
Valerie
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An interesting read. Mary Ann Evans aka George Eliot on her honeymoon in Venice paralelled with a modern American woman in Venice with her husband. It is not the first time in the city for either woman. I enjoyed the chapters about Evans because of the history and the other real people interspersed into the story. Not sure if I would read anything else by this author but this was worth my time.
Jun 27, 2009
Robin
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An interesting look at two women who once were happy and now are not -- and their thoughts and efforts towards making peace with themselves.
This book made me want to know more about the real George Eliot, and also to hope that Weisgall will write a book on the history of the Jews of Venice, of which she weaves tiny glimpses throughout the story.
This book made me want to know more about the real George Eliot, and also to hope that Weisgall will write a book on the history of the Jews of Venice, of which she weaves tiny glimpses throughout the story.
May 21, 2009
Kat
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Parallel stories of George Elliot and a modern day protagonist visiting Venice. Both are artists in unhappy marriages: Elliot (now Mrs Cross) in a sexless union with a man who wants to worship her, but is attracted to boys, Caroline with a possessive, controlling brute. Both get out of these relationship in different ways.
Dec 16, 2011
Erika
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This book was ok, it wasn't an easy read. It jumped between the story of George Eliot (Marian Evans) at the end of her life and her marriage, along with a tenuous marriage of a modern couple. The common thread was that each couple visited Venice. I guess the concept was how 2 different women viewed a marriage that wasn't really about who they were. It was just ok, not the worst book but not the best book I've read.
Apr 12, 2011
Barbara
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I think the author is a gift writer, and initially, I thought I'd love the book. But....as someone has already posted, I kind of got tired of the couples (especially the 1980's couple) and found the book a bit tedious after a while. Nevertheless, I am not sorry I read it. The evocation of Venice and Venetian art and architecture made it worthwhile.
Jun 02, 2009
Ruth
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I'm into Venice these days - can't wait to go! I found this book a bit slow going, but still was interested in it. It's about George Eliot at the end of her life and another woman a century later. I took that off the cover. Venice helps weave the two lives and marriages together.
Aug 04, 2009
Mkotch
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The George Eliot parts were very interesting, but the 20th C. character was a little annoying and the story a bit contrived in order to seem "parallel" to Eliot's. Still, I couldn't put it down, and want to read a real biography of Eliot.
Jun 24, 2009
Kristin
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I picked this up because it was about (a) George Eliot and (b) Venice. While I enjoyed it (and motored through it), I felt like it was a bit obvious at times, and I think the author has trouble writing convincing male characters.
Oct 22, 2009
Beth
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A fascinating book, two main characters set at several times in their lives. I had to accept the author's biography of George Eliot. I was able to visit Venice again in the pages of this book.
Jul 23, 2008
Marsha
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This book started off very promisingly, but just didn't hold my interest. It's about two couples, one in 1880 -- Johnnie and Marian (the novelist George Eliot) and one in 1980 -- Caroline and Malcolm. I never cared about the modern couple at all -- found them annoying, selfish, and self-involved. I wanted to give them a good kick in the rear and say, "Work it out, or get divorced, but leave me out of it." The Victorian couple's story intrigued me at first, but after a while I lost
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Feb 24, 2009
Diane
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Two tense marriages 100 yrs apart - one of them Marian Evans's (George Eliot) - both involving Venice and an art wife paired with a money husband. I found the tension tiring, even tho the book was well written.
Aug 27, 2009
Lauren
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This was ok. It had some interesting things to say about marriage but I found the writing very stiff, especially the dialogue.
Aug 19, 2011
Kathy
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I felt as if I had been to Venice and understood its colors,its smells, its light.
Aug 20, 2010
Joy
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I enjoyed the George Eliot portions of the book, but the modern parallel story never really grabbed me.
Sep 22, 2008
Ellen
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This is a work of well-researched historic fiction about George Eliot, but intertwined with a modern love story that resonates across history. It is a vibrant look at Venice, marriage, women, sex, money, all the things that make life interesting. And it is beautifully written. The author, who also wrote A Joyful Noise (a memoir) and Still Point, is an old friend and college classmate. This work has been many years in the making and has received wonderful reviews. I will be interested to hear wha
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