Gone with the Wind

     Author                      Margaret Mitchell

     Country                    United States

     Genre                        Historical Fiction

     Publication Date      May 1940

     Pages                        1031







'Gone with the Wind' has been on my 'to read' list for the longest time; but it is only recently that I finally found the courage and the passion to pick up this 1000 pages plus classic! And it was truly classic! One of my best books of all times...truly enchanting, engrossing and surprisingly fast paced for a classic!

Set in the American civil war of the 1860s, Gone with the Wind traces the life of Scarlett O'Hara, a bold and progressive protagonist. Scarlett is shown as a young girl, obsessed with her looks, boyfriends and having a good time but she soon matures into an aggressive and determined woman, hardened by the challenges that life has thrown at her. In the face of the war and its ensuing hardships, she effortlessly comes out of the shell of her protected life and dons an infallible persona, not just for herself, but also to protect her family and friends.

Being strong willed and determined, Scarlett unknowingly explores domains that have traditionally been reserved for men and by doing so, she challenges the very social fabric of the 19th century society. Establishing and running a business independently, working during her pregnancy are only some of the examples of what she does. And interestingly, none of her actions are an attempt to prove her worth as a woman but are merely an effort to earn money and never to be hungry again.

The below quote related to her by Rhett Butler, her friend and foe is quite apt in capturing the essence of Scarlett O'Hara and her personality.

"All you've done is to be different from other women and you've made a little success at it. That is the one unforgivable sin in any society. Be different and be damned ! The mere fact that you've made a success of your mill is an insult to every man who hasnt succeeded. A well bred female's place is in the home and she should know nothing about this busy, brutal world."

Scarlett's relationship with Rhett Butler, a rich but offensive middle aged man is both annoying and endearing. As the book evolves, this relationship matures from one of hatred, to interest, to indifference and finally to love and then to indifference once again. They are both unscrupulous and hence, relate very well to each other. Their ability to be honest with each other without a fear of judgement is the brightest spark of their relationship but unfortunately (to my romantic heart atleast), their love for each other wanes out towards the end of the book; leaving them both alone.

In short, Margaret Mitchell has done a great job in capturing not just the life and travails of Scarlett, the complexity of relationships, the beauty of human emotions but also the history, the war, its impact on civilisation and the desperation of times. One of the purest and most human emotions captured brilliantly through the book is the basic human need for survival and the courage that desire pumps into each of us. Scarlett's recurring quote "I do not ever want to be hungry again" is a great reminder of the same.

I will finally close by saying that reading 'Gone with the Wind' has been a treat like none other. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story packed with history, human emotions and impressive personalities..pick this up and you will not regret it!