Book Cover of The Getting of Wisdom

The Getting of Wisdom

by Henry Handel Richardson

The subject of this book is a young woman: an awkward, insecure, restless and ‘knowing’ child who learns that self-realisation depends on rebellion and escape, but that the latter will first demand at least the semblance of conformity. In telling lies, Laura learns both the astonishing allure of fiction and the social costs of stepping beyond the bounds of propriety, gender, class, and family ties. The novel is only in part a fictionalised account of Richardson’s school years at the Presbyterian Ladies College, Melbourne, where (unlike her fictional counterpart) she was not only academically successful but also an outstanding student of music. Unusual for stories of school-life, The Getting of Wisdom was clearly aimed at a mature readership able to understand irony and a critique of the colonial educational provision of its day, including a determination to preserve sexual ignorance in young women.

Book Details

Language

English

Original Language

English

Published In

1910

Author

Henry Handel Richardson image

Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson (3 January 1870 – 20 March 1946), known by her pen name Henry Handel Richardson, was an Australian author. The Canberra suburb of Richardson was gazetted in 1...

More on Henry Handel Richardson

Listen/Download Audiobook

Read by:
00:00
Playback Speed 1.0
00:00
  • Select Speed

Related books

The Subjection Of Isabel Carnaby Cover image

The Subjection Of Isabel Carnaby by Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler

In the opulent world of London's high society, a tempestuous secret lies concealed behind the impeccable facade of Isabel Carnaby. In "The Subjection...

To Kill A Mockingbird Cover image

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee, set in a small Southern town in the 1930s. The story follows the trial of a b...

A Rough Shaking Cover image

A Rough Shaking by George MacDonald

This timeless literary work weaves a tale of profound introspection, exploring themes of redemption, personal growth, and the resilience of the human...

Peter Pan Cover image

Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

Peter Pan is the well-loved story of three children and their adventures in Neverland with the boy who refuses to grow up. Swashbuckling, fairy dust,...

The Trail to Yesterday Cover image

The Trail to Yesterday by Charles Alden Seltzer

This is a gripping tale set in the rugged and untamed American West. In this sweeping frontier saga, where justice is as elusive as the whispers of th...

St. George and St. Michael, Volume 3 Cover image

St. George and St. Michael, Volume 3 by George MacDonald

As ancient powers awaken, an ominous darkness casts its relentless shadow over the kingdom of Albion. A captivating dance of fate unfolds as heroes an...

Night Fears and Other Stories Cover image

Night Fears and Other Stories by L. P. Hartley

In the inky depths of the human psyche, shadows dance and fears take shape. Delve into the enigmatic world of "Night Fears and Other Stories" by L. P....

Dawn of the Morning Cover image

Dawn of the Morning by Grace Livingston Hill

This timeless piece of literature was first published in 1911 and continues to captivate readers with its compelling story. The book follows the journ...

St. George and St. Michael, Volume 2 Cover image

St. George and St. Michael, Volume 2 by George MacDonald

In the enthralling second volume of George MacDonald's timeless masterpiece, "St. George and St. Michael," embark on a spellbinding journey to a world...

The Texan Star Cover image

The Texan Star by Joseph A. Altsheler

In the heart of the untamed Texan frontier, where the line between law and chaos blurs, "The Texan Star" by Joseph A. Altsheler ignites a gripping tal...

Reviews for The Getting of Wisdom

No reviews posted or approved, yet...