Big Read: Father by Elizabeth von Arnim

When her widowed father announces he has remarried, Jennifer seizes her chance to escape. Elizabeth von Arnim, best known for Enchanted April and Elizabeth and her German Garden, reinforces one of her favourite themes of freedom and independence in this light-hearted but poignant novel about the dilemma of unmarried women after the First World War.

Things to think about:

1. Does Freedom have consequences?

2. Does the novel reinforce gender stereotypes?

3. Is this a novel about ‘transformation’?

4. How is marriage depicted in Father?

5. Does the title Father influence our perceptions of the themes in the novel?

The discussion will be led by Marie-Louise Luxemburg. Big Read is FREE to members (£4 to non-members) and we encourage you to register in advance, but please feel free to turn up on the day. This session will be at Queen Square (not online).