‘Singled Out’ by Virginia Nicholson
I loved this book. Fascinating from start to finish! I initially picked it up in memory of my own single ‘aunts’, who had made their lives without husbands and children of their own after the Second World War. As someone who is single by choice and loving it, but who still finds herself regarded by some as a bit odd and even something of a failure, I was curious to learn more about the lives of single women from a much more rigidly structured age.
‘Singled Out’ certainly gave me a real insight to women struggling with making a life outside the conventional expectations of being a wife and mother. But even more than that, Virginia Nicholson shows how these single women, far from being victims of their situation, were trailblazers for the expectations, ambitions and freedoms we have today. There were so many inspiring stories of businesswomen, career women, explorers, academics, eccentrics, artists and inventors, all making fully satisfying lives for themselves. For me, there was also something particularly life-affirming in the exploration of the world of aunts and paid nannies, and the fact that these ‘childless’ women had close and loving relationships with their charges.
I think what I loved most was that this book demonstrates that, for women as well as men, there are many different ways of living and being. That sometimes a passion is all-consuming, and takes up every corner of one’s being. And that it’s okay. There are many different ways of living rich and satisfying lives, and it takes many different kinds of people to create a rich and satisfying community.
And so now I can go back to the single-minded pursuit of my writing with slightly less of that little niggle – for I am a woman, after all – that mine is a dis
gracefully selfish existence. A thing, of course, no man would even consider.
And so thank you ‘Singled Out’, and all those brave, unconventional and amazing women, who showed once and for all just what we women – married or single – are cap
able of. And led the way, big-time.
Yay!
A lovely post and most certainly is a book I will be looking out for…thank you!
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Pauline. Enjoy!
Wandered here from you link on Sepia. This sounds like an interesting book, wonder if I can find it here in the states. Pat
Hi Pat,
I loved your post on Sepia! Life intervened, (as it does) so I didn’t get mine together in time for this week, but I’ve got a family one from the past, too. I’ll put it up for next Saturday.
I think you can get ‘Singled Out’ in the US from Amazon: http://amzn.to/ohJprO. I lent it to a friend who brought it back last night and was equally blown away by it.
Hurrah for women, the great survivors!
Juliet
Sounds like an intriguing and wonderful book, I love the idea that it celebrates women following and living out a passion and that it should be an equally valid premise. It should not be perceived as selfish, quite the contrary, I believe it is an enlightened existence.
Definitely adding this to the ‘to read’ list. Thanks for your comment on my blog too.
Thanks, Claire! That’s a great comment!
I agree that women living out a passion should not be perceived as ‘selfish’. When it comes down to it, we still have all those old pressures of putting other people first. I hold my wrinkles and wobbly bits as badge of honour of a life lived passionately in all things, rather than simply trying to please others!
Woohoo!
Juliet