The 184 pages that comprise On Women are a collection of feminist essays written in the 1970s by the hugely influential writer, activist, and critic Susan Sontag. Never published in book form until now, they are a real journey into womanhood and all its colours.
The intellectual gymnastics that Sontag engages the reader in poses questions about the double standards of aging: are women allowed to age, or do they exist only for the pleasure of men? What is the connection between feminism and fascism and the danger of “the biological division of labour”?
Whether you agree with Sontag’s point of view and the divagations she presents in her essays, it is clear that she writes with incredible precision and honesty. Her work, here and until near the end of her life – she died in 2004, aged 71 – continues to offer food for thought and evokes a conversation about what a woman is. The introduction to On Women, by Merve Emre, makes for an provocative read – full of creative thinking and interesting correlations. As non-fiction works go, On Women creates a feeling comparable to a novel – immersing the reader into a different yet similar world, where you can perceive the perspective of another human being.
On Women, Susan Sontag (Penguin)
Price: £16.99/£9.99 Ebook/£13 audiobook. Info: here
words EWA PAŁKA
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