The Flight of Gemma Hardy

The Flight of Gemma Hardy

By Margon Livesey

The Flight of Gemma Hardy, a retelling of Jane Eyre is set in Scottland and Iceland in the 1960s. The descriptions of Scottish and Icelandic landscape and culture were probably what held my interest the best in this book. Gemma resembles Jane up until she reaches young adulthood. Both Jane and Gemma are orphaned and taken in by their loving uncle and uncaring aunt. Both are estranged from the only family they know after the death of their uncle. Both are sent to an atrocious school where they are poorly treated. Both experience the death of the only childhood friend they know. As soon as Gemma leaves school, though, her story ceases to follow Jane’s as closely. Gemma becomes a nanny for a little girl named Nell, the charge of her employer, Mr. Sinclair.

In my opinion, The Flight of Gemma Hardy slides downhill after Gemma leaves school. Not only does the story not follow the original (which would have been OK if the new story had been well done), but the romance between Gemma and Mr. Sinclair didn’t convince me. Also, in the original Jane is forced to leave her beloved because a hidden marriage is discovered. That's a reasonable reason to run away. In Gemma’s story, Mr. Sinclair’s grave secret revealed on their wedding day is, at best, weak. Gemma goes on to lie to and steal from the nice people who take her in and care for her. She comes to realize that she can tell lies just like Mr. Sinclair (how wonderful for her), so she forgives him. Jane is full of integrity and strength. Gemma is full of... strength. I left the book feeling dispassionate about the romance between Gemma and Mr. Sinclair, and I felt like Gemma was someone I wouldn’t care to meet.

Overall, the beautiful descriptions of Scotland and Iceland and the fact that I was able to learn a great deal about both countries were the only things that kept me reading this story. As a Jane Eyre retelling, all I can say is, “Blah.”