Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys

"Wide Sargasso Sea" is a novel by Jean Rhys that serves as a prequel to Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre," exploring themes of identity, race, and colonialism. Set in Jamaica and the Caribbean during the early 20th century, the story follows Antoinette Cosway, a young Creole girl of mixed heritage who faces rejection and isolation from both the local black community and the colonial white society due to her family's poverty and her ambiguous social status. The narrative delves into Antoinette’s tumultuous childhood, marked by familial tragedy and mental illness, particularly that of her mother, Annette, who succumbs to madness after a violent mob attack.

• Author: Jean Rhys
• Publisher: World Books, Inc. 1967
• Edition: Hardcover
• Language: English