An exploration and insightful analysis of sisters in literature and their depiction in three centuries of the novel.

Sisterly relationships feature prominently in some of our best-loved classic literature. From Jane and Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice to Hasina and Nazneen in Brick Lane, they have provided inspiration for novelists over the centuries.

Sisters can be best friends, mother figures, rivals, heroes, sounding boards or partners in crime, depending on literary genre, era, or the demands of plot. They can bring into focus the changing roles of women in society, especially in literature that predates the twentieth century, such as Middlemarch, The Woman in White and The Old Wives' Tale. Their bonds with younger or older siblings, like those of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy in Little Women, are often complex and nuanced, and occasionally devastating.

Covering childhood, adventure, affairs of the heart and mental health, this book explores the role of sisters in twenty individual entries, each one providing a synopsis and analysis of the work in question. Including writers as diverse as Charles Dickens, E. M. Forster, J. D. Salinger, Toni Morrison and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, it makes the perfect read for book-loving sisters whatever their connection.

Details

ISBN13: 9781851246212
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 208
Edition:
Publication Date: 23 Apr 2026
Publisher: Bodleian Library
Publication City, Country: United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 19.8(H)x12.9(L)
Weight (gm):

Author Biography

Janet Phillips is the author of Great Literary Friendships (Bodleian Library Publishing, 2022).

Reviews

...what I most enjoyed about the book is that it introduced me to some sisters I knew little about  – Isabel and Nina in Helen Dunmore’s Talking to the Dead, Nigerian sisters Ejima and Kainene in Half of a Yellow Sun, Katniss and Primrose from The Hunger Games and Hasina and Nazneen in Monica Ali’s Brick Lane. I loved meeting new fictional heroines...

This is a beautifully produced book and would make a lovely gift – for yourself, or any friend who loves to read.