BOOK BRIEF

Lolly Willowes

Sylvia Townsend Warner
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Lolly Willowes

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1999

Book Brief

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Sylvia Townsend Warner

Lolly Willowes

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1999
Book Details
Pages

222

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

England • 1920s

Publication Year

1999

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner follows Laura Willowes, a person who struggles with societal expectations in early 20th-century England. Seeking independence, Laura leaves her oppressive family life for solitude in a rural village, where she discovers personal freedom and empowerment through unexpected alliances, challenging traditional roles and exploring themes of autonomy and self-discovery.

Contemplative

Mysterious

Fantastical

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

3.7

12,957 ratings

61%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Sylvia Townsend Warner's Lolly Willowes is praised for its feminist themes and enchanting prose. Reviewers appreciate its sharp critique of societal norms and the compelling journey of the protagonist towards self-liberation. Some critique the novel's pacing and its abrupt shift in tone. Overall, it's celebrated for its wit and originality in addressing women's independence.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Lolly Willowes?

Readers who revel in Orlando by Virginia Woolf or The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson will enjoy Lolly Willowes. This book appeals to those intrigued by themes of female autonomy, enchantment, and self-discovery, wrapped in a blend of satire and witchcraft set in post-World War I England.

3.7

12,957 ratings

61%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

222

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

England • 1920s

Publication Year

1999

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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