Becoming a Heroine

by Rachel M. Brownstein

Now back in print, this feminist classic explores how women define themselves and their lives in terms of novels. Many of the greatest novels in English have women as their protagonists, and women have always been the novel's most faithful readers. Why is it that fiction and women relate so intimately?

Genres: Literary Criticism, Nonfiction, Womens, Books About Books

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and thought-provoking analysis of the roles of female characters in literature, from Samuel Richardson through Virginia Woolf, stopping at Jane Austen, the Brontes, and George Eliot (among others) on the way. For me, at least, this book provoked many musings on gender and identity, and the ways in which they intersect with literature - the autobiographical tone to the early chapters added to this effect. This book deserves especial credit for having an absolutely wonderful analysis and description of Samuel Richardson's Clarissa.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the least completed books I have ever felt like reviewing positively, for Ms Brownstein has discussed such a great number of interesting feminist classics in this, that I might come back to it a few years from now and get an entirely different set of recommendations - some of the books she named which I know I've adored, others of which definitely made me gag. Others yet I have no idea!

[Jennifer James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting discussion of women in novels including Villette, Mrs Dalloway, The Egoist, Portrait of a Lady, Daniel Deronda, and just about everything by Jane Austen. The main thing I got out of this book was incentive to read Villette and Mrs Dalloway, which made me want to read more Charlotte Bronte and Virginia Woolf.

[Lisa Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really an insightful analysis of women in literature. Brownstein asserts that "a heroine, like a novelist, can convert the
least promising of lives into art by the way she looks at it." Of the literary criticism with a feminist bent, this is one of the best.

[léa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather interesting! An outdated look on feminism for sure, but a lot of the analysis can still be relevant. I just found the chapters on some of the books I hadn't read or authors I didn't like to be painful to get through. Loved the Jane Austen chapter though (no one is surprised).

[Muirín]

scrum diddly yum yum purr purr

[Cheryl Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thoughtful, readable, and relateable piece of feminist literary criticism, especially useful for its section on Jane Austen.