65 pages 2 hours read

Ed. Lyndon J. Dominique, Anonymous

The Woman of Colour: A Tale

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1808

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Woman of Colour: A Tale by Anonymous, edited by Lyndon J. Dominique, is an epistolary novel that follows Olivia Fairfield, a biracial heiress, who must travel from Jamaica to England to marry her cousin Augustus Merton according to her father's will. Olivia navigates societal prejudices, complex relationships, and her own identity while experiencing life's highs and lows in 19th-century England. The book includes scenes with outdated and offensive language regarding race.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

The Woman of Colour, edited by Lyndon J. Dominique, garners praise for bringing to light a rare, early 19th-century novel that addresses race, gender, and class with progressive complexity. Critics commend Dominique's comprehensive introduction and annotations. However, some find the prose archaic and challenging. Overall, it's celebrated for its historical significance and scholarly contribution.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Woman of Colour?

A reader who would enjoy The Woman of Colour by Ed. Lyndon J. Dominique and Anonymous is likely interested in early 19th-century literature with themes of race, gender, and colonialism. Fans of Belinda by Maria Edgeworth and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë will appreciate its exploration of societal boundaries and personal identity.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Historical Fiction

Topics

Race / Racism

Gender / Feminism

Period

Colonialism / Postcolonialism

Themes

Identity: Race

Relationships: Marriage

Identity: Femininity