The love-child (1927)

As The Love-Child opens, we see Agatha, a 32 year old spinster, burying her mother. Her life that always was empty and bereft of companionship is now even more so. To console herself, Agatha raises from the dead of her childhood her imaginary friend, Clarissa. All is well and good with Agatha's make-believe world that she shares with Clarissa until something goes terribly wrong--other people start to be able to see Clarissa too.

This is a confounding situation for Agatha indeed, and one which she handles with aplomb. The girl who was once her imaginary friend is now, scandalously, introduced to the world as her love child. Like other children, Clarissa grows up, and much to Agatha's satisfaction. Agatha's fantasy sours, however, when a young man falls in love with her. Here is where the book really displays its brilliance because it is forced to answer a difficult question--whose fantasy shall Clarissa ultimately be, Agatha's or her suitor's?

The issue of fantasy ownership within the novel is not to be underestimated given this novel's short length and pithy prose. It very delicately balances notions of incest, lesbianism, feminism, and heterosexual prerogative with surprising results.

A highly recommended read. ( )