Great Literary Friendships

Close friendships are a heart-warming feature of many of our best-loved works of fiction. This book explores twenty-four literary friendships and how they influence character, determine plot, promote or disguise romance, preserve a reputation, result in betrayal, or underline the theme of each literary work. It includes a broad scope of literature spanning 400 years from writers as diverse as Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Evelyn Waugh, John Steinbeck, and Alice Walker.

Format: Hardback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 18 February 2022
Publisher: Bodleian Library

Close friendships are a cherished aspect of numerous beloved works of fiction, adding depth and warmth to the narratives. From the poignant schoolgirl relationship between Jane Eyre and Helen Burns to the thrilling adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn on the Mississippi, fictional friends have been integral to the stories of our popular and influential plays and novels. This captivating book delves into twenty-four literary friendships, exploring their profound influence on characters, plots, romance, reputation, and themes. It showcases how authors across centuries, from William Shakespeare to Elena Ferrante, have celebrated, lamented, or transformed friendships, creating enduring legacies. Moreover, it highlights how some friends, such as Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, Holmes and Watson, or even Bridget Jones and her companions, have transcended their original narratives, taking on creative lives of their own. Spanning a remarkable 400 years of literature from diverse writers like Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Evelyn Waugh, John Steinbeck, and Alice Walker, this book is a treasured gift for any literature-loving friend.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 143 x 207 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781851245826