The Child Manuela: A Novel
by Christa Winsloe
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Description
On the death of her mother, Manuela von Meinhardis is sent to a repressive school where affection and all weaker emotions are outlawed. In this regime only Fraulein von Bernburg offers tenderness and love, and for that both she and Manuela must suffer.Tags
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Member Reviews
"You must not love me so much...that's what one has to conquer, what one has to kill", 18 April 2014
This review is from: The Child Manuela: Novel of "Madchen in Uniform" (Virago Lesbian Landmarks) (Paperback)
Set just before World War I, this is a beautifully written book, following Manuela von Meinhardis through her sunny childhood with her beloved mother and Prussian cavalry officer father. As she grows older, she begins to develop romantic feelings for a woman she has met.... (spoiler alert)
The second half of the novel is about Manuela's time at a harsh girls' boarding school. In the bleak surroundings, Manuela looks to the only pleasant member of staff, Fraulein von Bernberg, for affection.
The true sadness comes when the reader show more compares the first sentence - "Manuela was a longed-for child" - with the ending. Makes one consider the interplay of societal restrictions, dysfunctional family and one's own personality on turning a happy infant into a wretched teenager. show less
This review is from: The Child Manuela: Novel of "Madchen in Uniform" (Virago Lesbian Landmarks) (Paperback)
Set just before World War I, this is a beautifully written book, following Manuela von Meinhardis through her sunny childhood with her beloved mother and Prussian cavalry officer father. As she grows older, she begins to develop romantic feelings for a woman she has met.... (spoiler alert)
The second half of the novel is about Manuela's time at a harsh girls' boarding school. In the bleak surroundings, Manuela looks to the only pleasant member of staff, Fraulein von Bernberg, for affection.
The true sadness comes when the reader show more compares the first sentence - "Manuela was a longed-for child" - with the ending. Makes one consider the interplay of societal restrictions, dysfunctional family and one's own personality on turning a happy infant into a wretched teenager. show less
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Lists
Pre-1969 LGBTQ Literature
182 works; 69 members
Best School Stories
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Best Books Set in Boarding Schools
160 works; 56 members
Publishing Triangle 100 Best Lesbian and Gay Novels
97 works; 6 members
Author Information
5+ Works 90 Members
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Notable Lists
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Work Relationships
Is an adaptation of
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Child Manuela: A Novel
- Original title
- Mädchen in Uniform
- Original publication date
- 1934
- People/Characters
- Lela (Manuela) von Meinhardis (Manuela); Kathe von Meinhardis; Major von Meinhardis; Fraulein von Bernberg
- Important places
- Dunheim, Germany; Muhlberg, Germany; Hochdorf School
- Related movies
- Mädchen in Uniform (1931 | IMDb); Muchachas de Uniforme (1951 | IMDb); Mädchen in Uniform (1958 | IMDb); BBC Play of the Month: Girls in Uniform (1967 | IMDb); Mädchen in Uniform (1974 | IMDb)
- Dedication
- dedicated in friendship and gratitude to Irene Hatvany,
Hatvan, winter 1932/33 - First words
- Manuela was a longed-for child.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)They left the two of them alone: Fraulein von Bernberg and Manuela.
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, LGBTQ+, General Fiction
- DDC/MDS
- 833.912 — Literature & rhetoric German & related literatures German fiction 1900- 1900-1990 1900-1945
- LCC
- PT2647 .I67 .G43 — Language and Literature German, Dutch and Scandinavian literatures German literature Individual authors or works 1860/70-1960
Statistics
- Members
- 79
- Popularity
- 401,327
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.93)
- Languages
- 6 — Catalan, Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 8
- ASINs
- 4
