Abstract
This essay examines eleven memoirs written by literary widows and published between 1926 and 2010. They range from adoring to bitter. Their major themes are the conflicts in marriage, the struggle for dominance and submission, the suffering from infidelity and alcoholism, the expression of resentment and anger. They all define themselves in relation to their husbands, yet need to break away, regain their own identity and tell their own story. Some emphasize the writer's personal faults at the expense of his artistic achievement, and their literary efforts were inevitably criticized by reviewers for exploiting the author's name or for failing to recognize his artistic value. The best memoirsâby Frieda Lawrence, Eileen Simpson and Claire Bloomâhave style, insight and compassion.
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