This book revisits Jean Rhys's ground-breaking 1966 novel to explore its
cultural and artistic influence in the areas of not only literature and
literary criticism, but fashion design, visual art, and the theatre as
well. Building on symposia that were held in London and New York in 2016
in honour of the novel's half-century, this collection demonstrates just
how timely Rhys's insights into colonial history, sexual relations, and
aesthetics continue to be. The chapters include an extensive interview
with novelist Caryl Phillips, who in 2018 published a novel about Rhys's
life, an account of how Wide Sargasso Sea can be read through the lens
of the #MeToo Movement, a clothing line inspired by the novel, and new
critical directions. As both a celebration and scholarly evaluation, the
collection shows how enduring Rhys's novel is in its continuing literary
influence and social commentary.