I first heard about this book was thanks to this video (has it already been 4 years?!) and I finally got around to reading it. I'm about 100 pages in and I find it just as you described it: very engaging, with interesting set of characters so far. I didn't watch your whole video because I want to go into this book as blind as possible, but I'll definitely go back to it once I'm done with the book. Thank you so much for the recommendation!
Very good points all around! I've been reading Hester for Kate Howe's Victorian read along and LOVING it! The characters are all so well developed...agreed, I love how it respects different kinds of women. I really do appreciate the treatment of Hester's mother. I can't wait to get back to reading 🥰
I am surprised I actually never heard of this book. Not only it sounds interesting, but your analysis made it seem really important to read. Thank you so much for always bringing such interesting content on your channel!
This book is going on my tbr right now. I know what you mean about Victorian Lit, Im reading Thomas Hardys Under the Greenwood Tree, and there is an underlying sense of mocking of all women in the book.They are talked down to, and put in their place behind the men, at every turn. Although I love Victorian Lit,Hester seems a refreshing change.
I’m currently reading Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Women, written in 1792. A very passionate plea for the standing of women in society.
This was a fantastic read, Katie! Thanks to your recommendation I bought the book and finished reading it today. Your summary and comments were superb. Gissing's The odd women was the other proto-feminist book I have read following your other video on not so well known Victorian novelists. Which is to be my third, I wonder? Any suggestions are more than welcome! :) Keep bringing these videos! They are gems. All the best, Anabel
Hoorah, I'm really glad you liked it - just such a wonderful novel. I highly recommend The Half Sisters and the Romance of a Shop for underrated proto-feminist novels.
Hope your move went well! Clearly I must read this. Maybe I will save it for Victober! I love thinking about how Victorian novels look at women and portray. It’s always fascinating. This sounds like a great read from that perspective!
Hope your move has gone smoothly And you get Internet access quickly I love your analyses of Victorian novels And you have introduced me (or my TBR) To Margaret Oliphant I don't worry about spoilers So even though I have not read Hester I watched your spoiler section And your analysis of the ending And how in some ways it makes One reflect on the whole book Is a powerful piece.
@@katiejlumsden Just to say my best ever reading week Was in a Swiss chalet with no Internet And no television And I read all the books I brought with me And found some others in a store too.
It's basically the presence of feminist themes in media from an era before feminist theory had been... theorized. So it's not technically correct to call it feminist because it wasn't influenced by feminist theory if that makes sense
Yep, as Maia says - basically I use the term when I want to say feminism but I'm talking about a time or a writer that/who wouldn't have understood or used the term 'feminism', if that makes sense.
I first heard about this book was thanks to this video (has it already been 4 years?!) and I finally got around to reading it. I'm about 100 pages in and I find it just as you described it: very engaging, with interesting set of characters so far. I didn't watch your whole video because I want to go into this book as blind as possible, but I'll definitely go back to it once I'm done with the book. Thank you so much for the recommendation!
Very much enjoyed Hester. Will read more from this author.
I must read it - I have never read any Margaret Oliphant novels, but it sounds great!
She's a great writer!
Oh my god i waited so long for another video in this series!!❤❤❤❤
:)
Hello. Luxuriously detailed but vibrantly suspenseful. . .
Very good points all around! I've been reading Hester for Kate Howe's Victorian read along and LOVING it! The characters are all so well developed...agreed, I love how it respects different kinds of women. I really do appreciate the treatment of Hester's mother. I can't wait to get back to reading 🥰
It's such a great book!
I just added it to my TBR and ordered it from Amazon... thanks
Enjoy!
I am surprised I actually never heard of this book. Not only it sounds interesting, but your analysis made it seem really important to read. Thank you so much for always bringing such interesting content on your channel!
It's a fantastic book, but she's a very underrated author I think!
This book is going on my tbr right now. I know what you mean about Victorian Lit, Im reading Thomas Hardys Under the Greenwood Tree, and there is an underlying sense of mocking of all women in the book.They are talked down to, and put in their place behind the men, at every turn. Although I love Victorian Lit,Hester seems a refreshing change.
It's an amazing novel, I highly recommend it!
I’m currently reading Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Women, written in 1792. A very passionate plea for the standing of women in society.
I really must actually read that!
This was a fantastic read, Katie! Thanks to your recommendation I bought the book and finished reading it today. Your summary and comments were superb. Gissing's The odd women was the other proto-feminist book I have read following your other video on not so well known Victorian novelists. Which is to be my third, I wonder? Any suggestions are more than welcome! :) Keep bringing these videos! They are gems. All the best, Anabel
Hoorah, I'm really glad you liked it - just such a wonderful novel. I highly recommend The Half Sisters and the Romance of a Shop for underrated proto-feminist novels.
Hope your move went well! Clearly I must read this. Maybe I will save it for Victober! I love thinking about how Victorian novels look at women and portray. It’s always fascinating. This sounds like a great read from that perspective!
I think you'd really like it!
Very enjoyable analysis! _Hester_ was already on my TBR, but it is now at the top.
It's a great book!
@@katiejlumsden I broke down and ordered it. I didn't want to go hang out in my local bookstore.
Have a safe and good move and you are my favorite on UA-cam. Your videos are sublime. Cheers.
Thanks very much! I am safely moved and have internet again.
@@katiejlumsden glad you made it safely and that way you can make more videos.
I stopped watching before the spoilers because I definitely want to read this at some point! I have Miss Marjoribanks on my shelf first though. :)
Hester is amazing! I really enjoyed Miss Marjoribanks too.
I hope everything turns out good with your moving out/in :)
Thanks! I am all moved in now and have internet again, so videos should continue as normal.
Hope your move has gone smoothly
And you get Internet access quickly
I love your analyses of Victorian novels
And you have introduced me (or my TBR)
To Margaret Oliphant
I don't worry about spoilers
So even though I have not read Hester
I watched your spoiler section
And your analysis of the ending
And how in some ways it makes
One reflect on the whole book
Is a powerful piece.
Thanks, John! The move did go smoothly and I am back with internet now, so videos should carry on as normal
@@katiejlumsden
Just to say my best ever reading week
Was in a Swiss chalet with no Internet
And no television
And I read all the books I brought with me
And found some others in a store too.
The Devil Wears Prada of its day.
Is this in the same series as Miss Majoribanks?
Nope, this is entirely a standalone.
What is a "proto-feminst"?
It's basically the presence of feminist themes in media from an era before feminist theory had been... theorized. So it's not technically correct to call it feminist because it wasn't influenced by feminist theory if that makes sense
@@maia_gaia Yes thank you. Very helpful.
Yep, as Maia says - basically I use the term when I want to say feminism but I'm talking about a time or a writer that/who wouldn't have understood or used the term 'feminism', if that makes sense.