Jeanette Winterson’s Written On The Body is acclaimed for its lyrical prose, rich metaphors, and evocative exploration of love and identity. However, some critics find its gender ambiguity and abstract narrative style challenging. Overall, the novel is praised for its emotional depth and innovative storytelling, but its unconventional elements may not appeal to all readers.

Readers who enjoy intimate, lyrical explorations of love and identity, much like in Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson or The Color Purple by Alice Walker, will be captivated by Written On The Body. This novel appeals to those interested in poetic prose and complex emotional narratives.

Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson follows an anonymous narrator recounting a passionate love affair with Louise Rosenthal, a married woman whose husband, Elgin, complicates their relationship by using her leukemia diagnosis to manipulate her return. The narrator's decision to leave Louise, believing it's for her well-being, leads to heartache and self-discovery, ending with a hopeful reunion. The narrative includes themes of infidelity and illness.

Melancholic / Emotional / Contemplative / Bittersweet

- Written On The Body by Jeanette Winterson is notable for its use of an ungendered narrator, leaving the reader to interpret the character's identity.
- The novel explores themes of love and desire with a poetic and experimental prose style that challenges traditional narrative forms.
- Jeanette Winterson wrote Written On The Body in 1992, and it has since become a staple in discussions of postmodern literature and LGBTQ+ studies.

**The Narrator**  
An unnamed, genderless character who works in translation and later relocates from London to Yorkshire, where they take up a job at a wine bar while recounting complex romantic relationships.

**Louise Rosenthal**  
An Australian art historian known for her beauty and the narrator's romantic interest, who is married to Elgin Rosenthal and battles a serious illness while navigating her shifting relationships.

**Dr. Elgin Rosenthal**  
A medical researcher and Louise's husband, who comes from a religious background and is focused on oncological pharmaceutical pursuits, attempting to maintain control over Louise's treatment and life choices.

**Gail Right**  
The owner of a Yorkshire wine bar, she serves as the narrator's employer and offers pragmatic advice and emotional support while embracing her own unfulfilled feelings toward the narrator.

**Jacqueline**  
A young zoo worker and the narrator's former domestic partner, whose volatile reaction to the narrator's affair indicates her deep emotional investment in their relationship.

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Pages 9-49

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Pages 113-140

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Written On The Body Pages 141-162 Summary & Analysis

Pages 163-190

Written On The Body Pages 163-190 Summary & Analysis

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