The History of Literature 78 Jane Eyre, The Good Soldier, Giovanni’s Room (with Margot Livesey)
Feb 3, 2017
Margot Livesey, Scottish-born novelist known for The Flight of Gemma Hardy and Mercury, reflects on formative reads. She talks about identifying with Jane Eyre, the narrative tricks and unreliability in The Good Soldier, and the emotional modernity of Giovanni’s Room. Short, lively conversations explore childhood reading, homage, structure, and how passion is rendered across these classics.
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Childhood Reading Shaped by Jane Eyre
- Margot Livesey read Jane Eyre at age nine from her father's bookshelf and immediately identified with Jane's orphaned plight.
- She grew up near a Gothic boys' school and later attended a harsh girls' school, which reinforced her connection to Brontë's settings and themes.
Homage Began With A Book Club Revelation
- Livesey wrote The Flight of Gemma Hardy as a conscious homage to Jane Eyre after leading an American book club discussion.
- The book club's enthusiasm convinced her Brontë's power to engage modern, non-British readers justified a reimagining.
Set Constraints When Writing A Homage
- When honoring a masterpiece, set clear constraints to keep your novel original.
- Livesey's self-imposed rule for her Jane Eyre homage was 'no attics' to avoid copying Brontë's iconic imagery.
