A Mummer's Wife by George Moore

Description

A Mummer’s Wife is a novel by George Moore, first published in 1885. Often considered one of the earliest examples of English literary naturalism, the novel broke with the moral conventions of its time and introduced readers to a grittier, more realistic portrayal of working-class life and personal decline. Drawing inspiration from Émile Zola’s naturalist style, Moore crafted a vivid, unflinching narrative centered on the life of Kate Ede, a grocer’s wife in a provincial town, whose entanglement with a traveling actor leads her into a spiraling descent of social and personal ruin. The book was controversial upon release for its candid treatment of themes such as adultery, alcoholism, and female agency. Its frank exploration of moral ambiguity and psychological complexity challenged Victorian sensibilities, prompting both criticism and praise. Moore’s departure from romanticized storytelling helped pave the way for modernist and realist fiction in Britain, placing A Mummer’s Wife at the forefront of literary evolution in the late 19th century. It remains a striking portrayal of human vulnerability and societal judgment, notable for its stylistic innovation and emotional intensity.

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