I agree that it can not easily be made into an adventure movie, but aren't people's choices and situations also fascinating if discovered by a truly artistic writer?Īlso, the ending has been criticized as being inconclusive. We are dealing with human relationships between the characters in the book. People criticize the book for having too little action. So what happens to Sugar? I'm not telling.įrom comparing notes with numerous other readers, people tend to either love or strongly hate this book for a variety of reasons. When a doctor discovers Sugar's pregnancy, William chooses to conveniently dismiss her. William rejects Sugar more while she builds a loving and trusting relationship with Sophie, William's daughter. Their relationship changes with the move, even though there still are a few personal visits. Sugar eventually convinces William to move her into his home and to allow her to be Sophie's new governess. During her walks to see where William really is, Agnes sees Sugar in a white dress and identifies Sugar as her own personal guardian angel. Sugar spends her days waiting for William as well as spying on the family. He hears of her reputation from his friends, but secretly hides their relationship while providing all her needs. Sugar is bought by William for his personal use.

Fortunately, the family is wealthy enough to have a nurse take care of their daughter, Sophie. Consequently, she rejects her husband sexually and refuses to recognize her daughter. No one has ever informed her that this is a rite to womanhood. William is also married to a woman who has given birth to Sophie, but neither parent visits or spends any time or shows interest in the child.Īgnes, William's wife, has severe emotional problems and really believes she is dying from 'bleeding' infrequently. With Sugar's help and inspiration, William takes over his father's business and becomes financially profitable. When we meet him, he is having financial problems since his father will not allow him to have more money until William is willing to show interest in the family business of perfume making. William Rackham is a dreamer who dreams of being a novelist. Sugar is an exceptional hooker in that she does things that other prostitutes will not do, and she is considered to be a little higher in the hierarchy. 'My name is Sugar, I am what you would call a Fallen Woman, but I assure you I did not fall-I was pushed.' The Crimson Petal and the White is a story of one woman, a prostitute named Sugar. Any book that has me so strongly identifying and longing for a better life for for the main character makes me want to recommend all readers to notice it. With the escape of this book, I was vividly transported into the nineteenth century and feeling for the prostitute, Sugar. Oh, to be engulfed with the poetic flow of words as in a Dickens' novel was how I felt upon reading The Crimson Petal and the White.

Michel faber under the skin review