The Woman Who Did

Grant Allen (1848 - 1899)

Most times, especially in the time when this book was written (1895), it is just as nature and society would wish: a man and woman "fall in love" and get married. But it is not so for Herminia Barton and Alan Merrick. They do indeed fall in love, but Herminia has a deeply held belief in freedom for women, and she holds immutable views against what she perceives as the slavery of marriage.

Alan unwillingly agrees to her strong wish to remain unmarried and to live together as "close and dear friends". When the birth of their child is imminent, they go to his beloved Italy to avoid the condemnation of English society.

From this point on, many questions are raised: is marriage indeed so important? Is strong will always good? Is it right to go against society? And if it is, when should we stop and consider the effects on other people? What should a child do when she is raised to be what her mother dreams and develops her own dreams in the process? And, finally, how much should parents sacrifice for their children? (Summary by Stav Nisser and Ruth Golding)

Genre(s): General Fiction, Published 1800 -1900

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Chapter I Ruth Golding
00:20:52
Play 02 Chapter II Ruth Golding
00:12:31
Play 03 Chapter III Ruth Golding
00:37:37
Play 04 Chapter IV Ruth Golding
00:12:58
Play 05 Chapter V Ruth Golding
00:22:48
Play 06 Chapter VI Ruth Golding
00:14:57
Play 07 Chapter VII Ruth Golding
00:17:22
Play 08 Chapter VIII Ruth Golding
00:13:09
Play 09 Chapter IX Ruth Golding
00:18:30
Play 10 Chapter X Ruth Golding
00:14:48
Play 11 Chapter XI Ruth Golding
00:13:34
Play 12 Chapter XII Ruth Golding
00:16:18
Play 13 Chapter XIII Ruth Golding
00:17:33
Play 14 Chapter XIV Ruth Golding
00:10:00
Play 15 Chapter XV Ruth Golding
00:16:11
Play 16 Chapter XVI Ruth Golding
00:15:10
Play 17 Chapter XVII Ruth Golding
00:14:13
Play 18 Chapter XVIII Ruth Golding
00:16:36
Play 19 Chapter XIX Ruth Golding
00:15:56
Play 20 Chapter XX Ruth Golding
00:07:55
Play 21 Chapter XXI Ruth Golding
00:12:38
Play 22 Chapter XXII Ruth Golding
00:08:29
Play 23 Chapter XXIII Ruth Golding
00:04:00
Play 24 Chapter XXIV Ruth Golding
00:07:09