Harriet Hume by Rebecca West

This is basically first wave feminism's and modernism's answer to The Picture of Dorian Gray. Interestingly conceived but exasperatingly executed (because of the first wave feminism). I have a hard time with Rebecca West generally, because she can be a truly amazing modernist writer, but then she puts in some horrendous psychological (frankly) bullshit that just makes me feel so disgusted and annoyed. Here, there's less of that because the story is a charming modern fairy tale and immediately announces that it is a 'fantasy'. There were parts that I enjoyed very much, since this and Orlando are the only instances I can think of in which a fairy tale or mythical style is interwoven with stream-of-consciousness. But again, the feminist politics which are completely ludicrous to us today keep intruding. In this respect, it's very similar to the 'New Woman' stories of the late nineteenth century, which I find incredibly aggravating. I hugely enjoyed the richness and beauty of the writing, however, even if I was less than satisfied with the characters and the ideas.