The Fountain Overflows by Rebecca West. Summary of the book.

by

The Fountain Overflows by Rebecca West: Summary, Plot and Interesting Facts

The Fountain Overflows is a novel by Rebecca West, first published in 1956. The novel tells the story of a family of upper-middle-class English people, the Aubreys, and their struggles with personal relationships, money problems, and social pressures. It is set in the Edwardian era and spans the period from the turn of the century to the outbreak of World War I.

The novel follows the lives of three siblings: Mary, Cordelia, and Richard Aubrey. Their father, a successful doctor, is a distant, authoritarian figure; their mother is an invalid whose illness puts a strain on the family’s finances. The siblings must deal with the consequences of their parents’ neglect, as well as the social snobbery of their upper-class peers. They must also cope with their own problems, including Cordelia’s unrequited love for a married man and Richard’s secret gambling addiction.

At the heart of the story is the Aubreys’ strong bond and their determination to remain a family despite their difficulties. The novel is a coming-of-age story, as the siblings slowly come to terms with the world around them and come to understand the importance of family. The book is an exploration of the themes of love, loss, and the power of family ties.

Main Characters

Mary Aubrey: The eldest of the Aubrey children, Mary is the main protagonist. She is a strong-willed and independent young woman who is determined to make her own way in life. She is the most responsible of the siblings, and her adventures away from home often serve as a foil for the events at home.

Cordelia Aubrey: The middle child and only daughter of the Aubrey family, Cordelia is a romantic and idealistic young woman. She is deeply in love with a married man, and her unrequited love fuels her desire to escape from the confines of her family.

Richard Aubrey: The youngest of the Aubrey children, Richard is a gambler and a dreamer. He is a passionate and idealistic young man, and his secret gambling addiction threatens to ruin the family’s reputation.

Dr. Aubrey: The patriarch of the Aubrey family, Dr. Aubrey is a successful doctor and a distant, authoritarian figure. His neglect of his family’s needs often puts a strain on the family’s finances.

Mrs. Aubrey: The invalid mother of the Aubrey children, Mrs. Aubrey is a gentle and loving woman. Her illness puts a strain on the family’s finances, and her illness often serves as a metaphor for the family’s troubles.

Main Themes

The Fountain Overflows is a coming-of-age story about the power of family ties and the importance of love and loyalty. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the difficulties of growing up in a society with rigid social conventions. The book also explores the themes of responsibility and the struggle to find one’s place in the world. The novel is an exploration of the effect of money on relationships, and the consequences of neglect.

Interesting Facts

  • The novel was inspired by Rebecca West’s own childhood: The character of Richard is based on West’s own brother, and the novel was inspired by West’s memories of growing up in a middle-class family during the Edwardian era.
  • The book was adapted into a play: In 1958, the novel was adapted into a play by dramatist William Douglas Home. The play was successful in both London and New York.
  • The book is set in the Edwardian era: The novel is set in the period from the turn of the century to the outbreak of World War I. This period of history is known as the Edwardian era.
  • The novel was well-received: The novel was well-received by critics, and it won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction in 1956.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Fountain Overflows about?

The Fountain Overflows is a novel by Rebecca West, first published in 1956. It tells the story of a family of upper-middle-class English people, the Aubreys, and their struggles with personal relationships, money problems, and social pressures. It is a coming-of-age story about the power of family ties and the importance of love and loyalty.

Who are the main characters in The Fountain Overflows?

The main characters in The Fountain Overflows are Mary, Cordelia, and Richard Aubrey and their parents, Dr. and Mrs. Aubrey. Mary is the main protagonist, a strong-willed and independent young woman; Cordelia is a romantic and idealistic young woman; Richard is a gambler and a dreamer; Dr. Aubrey is a successful doctor and a distant, authoritarian figure; and Mrs. Aubrey is a gentle and loving invalid.

When was The Fountain Overflows published?

The Fountain Overflows was first published in 1956.

What awards did The Fountain Overflows win?

The Fountain Overflows won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction in 1956.

Was The Fountain Overflows adapted into a play?

Yes, The Fountain Overflows was adapted into a play by dramatist William Douglas Home in 1958. The play was successful in both London and New York.

Related books:

  1. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (1938). Summary of the book.
  2. The Vampyre; a Tale by John William Polidori. Summary of the book.
  3. Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian. Summary of the book.
  4. The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West. Summary of the book.
  5. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella (2001). Summary of the book.
  6. Mary Barton by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. Summary of the book.
  7. Life in the Iron-Mills; Or, The Korl Woman by Rebecca Harding Davis. Summary of the book.
  8. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (2010). Summary of the book.
  9. The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave by Mary Prince. Summary of the book.
  10. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells (1996). Summary of the book.
  11. King Lear by William Shakespeare (1603). Summary of the book.
  12. Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson by Mary White Rowlandson. Summary of the book.
  13. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (2000). Summary of the book.
  14. Vanity Fair by William Thackeray (1848). Summary of the book.
  15. The Mindfulness Workbook for Addiction: A Guide to Coping with the Grief, Stress and Anger that Trigger Addictive Behaviors by Rebecca E. Williams. Summary of the book.
  16. Shopaholic & Baby by Sophie Kinsella (2007). Summary of the book.
  17. Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach. Summary of the book.
  18. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911). Summary of the book.
  19. The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing. Summary of the book.
  20. Reclaiming the Wild Soul: How Earth’s Landscapes Restore Us to Wholeness by Mary Reynolds Thompson. Summary of the book.
  21. The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West. Summary of the book.
  22. The Ordeal of Richard Feverek by George Meredith. Summary of the book.
  23. Thank You and You’re Welcome by Kanye West. Summary of the book.
  24. Poor Richard’s Almanack by Benjamin Franklin. Summary of the book.
  25. West African Folk-Tales. Summary of the book.
  26. My Life — Volume 1 by Richard Wagner. Summary of the book.
  27. The Beach by Alex Garland. Summary of the book.
  28. The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie. Summary of the book.
  29. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft. Summary of the book.
  30. The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle. Summary of the book.
  31. Manservant and Maidservant by Ivy Compton-Burnett. Summary of the book.
  32. The Fortunes of Richard Mahoney by Henry Handel Richardson. Summary of the book.
  33. The Information by Martin Amis. Summary of the book.
  34. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach (2003). Summary of the book.
  35. The Good Girl by Mary Kubica (2014). Summary of the book.
  36. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling (2007). Summary of the book.
  37. The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. Summary of the book.
  38. The Last Man by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Summary of the book.
  39. The Middle-Class Gentleman by Molière. Summary of the book.
  40. Ivanhoe: A Romance by Walter Scott. Summary of the book.
  41. Sybil or The Two Nations by Benjamin Disraeli. Summary of the book.
  42. One Thousand White Women: The Journals of Mary Dodd by Jim Fergus (1998). Summary of the book.
  43. The Journey of Transformation by Dianna Bellerose. Summary of the book.
  44. The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne. Summary of the book.
  45. The Hunters by James Salter. Summary of the book.
  46. Life of Pi by Yann Martel (2001). Summary of the book.
  47. The Towers of Trebizond by Rose Macaulay. Summary of the book.
  48. A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes. Summary of the book.
  49. Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary E Braddon. Summary of the book.
  50. The Ascent of Rum Doodle by WE Bowman. Summary of the book.

Leave a Comment