'Affinity' (1999) by Sarah Waters traces the story of protagonist Margaret Prior, an unmarried and unhappy 30-year-old from an upper class family in 1870s Victorian era. Although I regretted reading this twenty pages in, I finished this maudlin story categorized as historical fiction and left it on the plane. I have heard of the author and this book, but I've avoided reading her because I thought them sappy. Ugh. You could argue that it's brilliantly written, but hey, this ain't my kind of book.
There's a 2008 film adaptation of 'Affinity' (directed by Tim Fywell and screenplay by Andrew Davies) that is less popular than the author's other two or three books that have been adapted for the small screens and theatre. For example, 'Tipping the Velvet' (published in 1998, and adapted by Laura Wade for the theatre and the play premiered in September 2015). I'm absolutely fascinated by the author's education—which reads like "local Catholic school in Pembrokeshire, followed by a BA in English literature from Canterbury University, an MA in gay and lesbian historical fiction from Lancaster University and a PhD on the idea of history in lesbian and gay writing at Queen Mary, University of London."
We learn of Margaret's story and painful life through her diary entries. Upset by the death of her father and a failed romance with her sister-in-law, and her recent suicide attempt, Margaret Prior as taken upon herself to be some sort 'Lady Visitor' to Millbank Women's Prison, hoping to guide female prisoners, and finding escape from her overbearing Mother. Said Mother is obviously proud of her other married children who are successful and have trotted out babies. She seems to be punishing Margaret's unconventional thoughts and leanings by drugging her nightly, and making her read Dickens' 'Little Dorrit'. Now that, is truly torturous.
Margaret is extremely fascinated by one prisoner, the beautiful Selina Dawes, who is apparently a medium. She has been disgraced and her previous patron (Mrs Blink) had died of a heart attack while participating in a séance Selina conducted. Selina Dawes had Margaret believe that she could MAGICALLY break out of prison, and both of them could fly away together. Okaaaay. I rolled eyes at this juncture. ARRRRGH. Victorian England is a damn shitty era for women.
Sarah Waters is known for her dark novels, and clearly this one, is the least well known of her books. We could talk about the various themes raised in this book, of class differences and how one is pigeon-holed into her station in life, and she would be penalized for daring to rise above it; or how tough women had it, and how women were (and are) particularly cruel to other women. If the literary world wants it, 'Affinity' could be classified as 'lesbian fiction', without a happy ending of course. I assume, Margaret finally died by suicide. Obviously Margaret Prior was threatened with charges for abetting the release/breakaway of Selina Dawes, even though it was really prison guard Mrs Jelf who did it. The arrangement between Selina and Mrs Jelf is another plot line altogether, and there's go-between maidservant in the Prior household, "lumpy Vigers" who seemed "kind" to Margaret, and made things 'magically' appear by 'telepathy'. For all the charlatan games, the dead Mrs Blink saw through it. And, Ruth, is really Peter Quick.
I think of all the ladies she has placed in her waxen hands upon and stained—and of Selina, who must have kissed her fingers as they dripped—and I am filled with horror, and with envy and with grief, because I know myself untouched, unlooked-for and alone. I saw the policeman return to the house this evening. Again he rang upon the bell, and stood gazing into the hall—perhaps at least he thinks me gone to Warwickshire to join Mother. But perhaps he does not, perhaps he will come back again tomorrow. He will find Cook here then, and make her come and tap upon my door. She will find me strange. She will fetch Dr Ashe, and perhaps a neighbour—Mrs Wallace; and they will send for Mother. And then—what? Then tears or staring grief, and then more laudanum, or chloral again, or morphine, or paregoric—I never tried that. Then the couch for half a year, just like before, and visitors walking tip-toe to my door ... And then the gradual re-absorption into Mother's habits—cards with the Wallaces, and the creeping hand upon the clock, and the invitations to the christenings of Prissy's babies. And meanwhile, the inquiry at Millbank; and I might not be brave enough, now Selina has gone, to lie on her behalf, and on my own...
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