The Old Wives’ Tale (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Arnold Bennett
- First Published: 1908
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Naturalism
- Time of Work: Nineteenth century
- Setting: England and Paris
- Genres: Long fiction, Naturalistic literature
- Subjects: Gambling, Nineteenth century, Middle classes, Marriage, Paris, England or English people, Sisters
- Locales: Paris, France, England
Characters Discussed
Sophia Baines, a high-spirited girl, the one member of the family strong enough to stand out against her father. Because she detests keeping a shop and domestic obligations, her parents finally allow her to become a schoolteacher. After her father’s death, which is brought on by her carelessness, Sophia voluntarily returns to the shop as a penance. A brief, disillusioning marriage to Gerald Scales is followed by a long period in which Sophia has a successful business career in Paris. After a twenty-seven-year absence, she returns to Bursley (one of the...
[The entire page is 1019 words long]
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