A review by sharyl5
Villette by Charlotte Brontë

4.0

What a heart-wrenching story! In Villette, Charlotte Bronte forces the reader to feel all of Lucy Snowe's depression, angst, and anxiety, juxtaposed against the lives of others who are much more fortunate. Lucy is a young woman who has already learned to survive life's misfortunes in such a brave, stoic way--and yet, she cannot help but have hope. Her inner turmoil is not fathomed by those around her, and she is quite ignored by most. Lucy learns to prefer being alone, though it is this very solitary confinement that does her mental harm. Lucy struggles with her feelings toward others, her need for friendship and love. People, people, all around, but no one who understands--except one. Ah, but this doesn't mean that there's an easy, happy ending.

Lucy's life may be very circumscribed, but there's plenty of emotional upheaval and action in this story. The writing has its circumloquacious passages, but that is mostly my twenty-first century taste. This is a wonderfully written tome.