Emma Tennant, Faustine

Gina Wisker (University of Brighton)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.3: Scottish Writing and Culture, 400-present.
Vol. editors: Kate Ash-Irisarri (University of Edinburgh), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), J. Derrick McClure (University of Aberdeen)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1991

Places

Scotland (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel

Resources

Devilishly amusing is Emma Tennant's Faustine, which has all the ingredients of a potent haunted house story – magical and demonic. The novel works by revitalising memory, and exploring the evil magical power of a selfish, consumer-oriented desire for eternal youth and beauty; eternal sexual, financial and social power. In so doing, it provides an interesting critique of the values of the 1960s and '70s as translated into the more sober, capitalist Thatcherite '80s and '90s. Magic and humour are the forms of the story: its social critique is clear.

The protagonist is Ella, a granddaughter, who wants to find her roots, and seeks out her past and her fondly remembered grandmother, flying from Australia to England to do …

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807 words

Citation: Wisker, Gina. "Faustine". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 27 November 2002 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=5174, accessed 27 November 2024.]

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