Feminine Reading as Deduction in Lady Audley’s Secret by Marry Elizabeth Braddon

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to deal with feminine reading in nineteenth century Britain during the Victorian period. Marry Elizabeth Braddon’s novel Lady Audley’s Secret is portrayed as a case study in this research work. This latter comes to show the treatment of the Woman Reader in 19th century, thus the novel portrayed the female reader as the main issue in Britain. Reading became a mark of gentility and a means to promote the family unity. My purpose here is to identify the cultural position of women in 19th century Britain. In addition to the portrayal of the woman reader in Victorian society, my own passion for reading began with books that inspired me such romantic novels and short stories. There will be a discussion of the difficulties of feminine reading. This research work is divided into three chapters. The first chapter will introduce a historical overview about the Victorian era and the struggle done by the woman reader. While the second will involves the rise of the woman reader. The final chapter will investigate women’s reading habit in Victorian period.