Unwritten Woman

Hannah Lavery's Unwritten Woman is a powerful call for us to see women in stories and re-tellings, elevating them from the margins to the center of our cultural landscape.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2024
Publisher: Birlinn General

Hannah Lavery's Unwritten Woman is a powerful and ambitious work that urges us to recognize the women in the stories we read and tell ourselves. Through her exploration of the story in her hometown of Edinburgh and her chilling retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson's Jekyll & Hyde, Lavery elevates the women in that classic tale from being written between the lines to the woman of color, shouting from the sidelines of our cultural landscape.

Lavery's work is a testament to the power of storytelling to shape our understanding of the world and the people in it. She challenges us to look beyond the surface of the stories we consume and to see the hidden stories that lie beneath. By doing so, we can gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and perspectives of women who have been marginalized and overlooked in our society.

One of the key themes of Unwritten Woman is the idea of the "unwritten woman." Lavery argues that women have been historically underrepresented in literature and that their stories have been left out of the narrative. This has led to a lack of understanding and appreciation of the contributions that women have made to society. Lavery's retelling of Jekyll & Hyde is a powerful example of this.

In Stevenson's original story, the woman of color, Mary Reilly, is a minor character who is written between the lines. She is a servant to Dr. Jekyll and is never given a voice or a name. Lavery, however, brings Mary Reilly to the forefront of the story and gives her a voice that is powerful and resonant. She shows us that Mary Reilly is a complex and multifaceted character who is capable of great love, courage, and sacrifice.

Lavery's retelling of Jekyll & Hyde also challenges the notion of the "mad scientist." Stevenson's story is often interpreted as a cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific experimentation. However, Lavery argues that the story is also a commentary on the social and political structures that perpetuate inequality and oppression. She shows us that Dr. Jekyll's transformation into Mr. Hyde is not just a result of his scientific experiments, but also of the social pressures and expectations that he faced.

Lavery's work is not only a celebration of the women in literature, but also a call to action. She encourages us to read and tell stories that reflect the diversity of our world and to challenge the stereotypes and biases that exist in our society. She believes that by doing so, we can create a more just and equitable world for all.

In conclusion, Hannah Lavery's Unwritten Woman is a bold and ambitious work that urges us to see the woman in the stories we read and tell ourselves. Through her exploration of the story in her hometown of Edinburgh and her chilling retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson's Jekyll & Hyde, Lavery elevates the women in that classic tale from being written between the lines to the woman of color, shouting from the sidelines of our cultural landscape. Her work is a testament to the power of storytelling to shape our understanding of the world and the people in it and a call to action to create a more just and equitable world for all.

Weight: 146g
Dimension: 128 x 197 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781846976650