The old wives' tale
About this book
First published in 1908, The Old Wives' Tale affirms the integrity of ordinary lives as it tells the story of the Baines sisters—shy, retiring Constance and defiant, romantic Sophia—over the course of nearly half a century. Bennett traces the sisters' lives from childhood in their father's drapery shop in provincial Bursley, England, during the mid-Victorian era, through their married lives, to the modern industrial age, when they are reunited as old women. The setting moves from the Five Towns of Staffordshire to exotic and cosmopolitan Paris, while the action moves from the subdued domestic routine of the Baines household to the siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War.
Reader Profile
4.0/5 · 14 readers · 629 pages · ≈ 11 h 39 m · Challenging
How long does it take to read The old wives' tale?
About ≈ 11 h 39 m — 629 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.
How many pages is The old wives' tale?
629 pages in its most-read edition.
What genre is The old wives' tale?
It sits on the Biography & Memoir, History, Fiction shelves.
Has The old wives' tale been made into a movie or TV show?
Yes — screen adaptations include The Old Wives' Tale (1921).
Is The old wives' tale in the public domain?
Yes — it is free to read and share.
Where does The old wives' tale take place?
It is set in England, Great Britain during 19th century.
Who wrote The old wives' tale?
Arnold Bennett.
Where can I read The old wives' tale online for free?
It is in the public domain — read it free on Open Library