Memorable mothers in literature

In what is often described as an early feminist novel, Little Women set the literary world ablaze when it was published in 1868, and it continues to engage and delight readers today.

Marmee is a mum on a mission, as she guides and supports her four daughters to be independent thinkers in an era when a good marriage was considered the ultimate aspiration for a young woman. The feminist angle is hardly unsurprising from an author who once famously said: ‘I’d rather be a free spinster and paddle my own canoe.’ Suffrage supporter, abolitionist and Civil War nurse, Louisa May Alcott had plenty of personal experience to create her free-thinking female characters.

When Helen Graham and her young son arrive at the tumbledown estate Wildfell Hall, local tongues start wagging. An unaccompanied and unknown woman is almost too much for the village gossips to bear. But Helen is in no hurry to douse the rumours and speculation; she’s only interested in providing for her son.

Anne Brontë’s book was considered scandalous on publication and as a gender debate it was way ahead of its time. Helen remains one of the great female characters in literature – a savvy single mum in an era when such women were shunned by society.

Meggie would do anything to protect her family … and indeed does. Aware of the racial prejudice that will follow her children their entire lives, she is caught between the reactionary behaviour of son Jude, and his brother Callum’s decision to play the system by working and studying his way to the top.

Meggie is in a lose-lose situation but she is unfailing in her loyalty and will defend her family at all costs.