Man’s transition from child to adult has long been the focus of stories and tales. As far back as Homer and the Bible, and probably further still, we have told versions of the coming-of-age story. For most of history, however, the focus seemed to be on a boy’s transition to manhood and his moral awakening.
The modernist movement brought sweeping changes to the world. Taboos were shattered as people began to openly address issues like sexual and moral development. While literature was not exempt from these changing forces, coming-of-age stories remained focused on boys in the early 20th century.
Cover of 'The Nursery "Alice"' by E. Gertrude Thomson, 1890
Yet with time came change and soon women began to take a leading role in the coming-of-age narrative, both as subject and author. Today women like Sue Townsend, Donna Tartt, and Esther Freud are considered giants in this field while stories like ‘The Bell Jar’ and ‘Sophie’s World’ stand as icons of this genre. Though tales of boys becoming men might still dominate, girls are increasingly becoming the focus of coming-of-age stories.
In the first part of this week’s show Susan talks with Alexandra Pringle about her top coming-of-age books for girls. As editor-in-chief of Bloomsbury Publishing Alexandra is one of the most important women in literature and a shaping force behind what appears on our bookshelves. Join ‘Talking Books’ as Alexandra talks to us about her own favourite books and how they influenced her growing up.
Why has sexual awakening become so important in coming-of-age novels? How did the patchwork family influence these writings? Why are tales of women growing up so important and popular? And how did ‘Brothers of the More Famous Jack’ redefine the genre?
In the second half of the show we continue to look at women in books as Susan talks with psychologist and author Cordelia Fine about neurosexism and the myths of gender. In 2001 Professor Fine was awarded her PhD in psychology from the University of London. The following years saw her write prolifically on psychology and neuroscience, establishing herself as a respected name in these fields.
One of the biggest issues that kept arising, however, was the theory that men and women’s brains were fundamentally different. This idea that the sexes just weren’t wired the same became the target for Professor Fine’s second book, ‘Delusions of Gender’. After critically analysing hundreds of studies on neurological differences between men and women Professor Fine reached a divisive conclusion.
On this week's ‘Talking Books’ Susan talks with Professor Fine about her findings, the ‘Delusions of Gender’, and how popular science books misuse neuroscience. Join us as we find out what exactly neurosexism is and why it can be so damaging. Why are we so convinced that men are from Mars and women from Venus? Are there any real differences in the way men and women think? Or are these ideas of male and female brains just bad science?
