Gone With the Wind

Well, I couldn’t leave out one of the greatest historical romances ever written! 

Yes, the book does have battles and American politics but they are part of the storyline and only enhance the conflicted relationship between Scarlett and Rhett. In no way do they overpower the romance.

I picked this book up in a second-hand bookstore for 50p when I was a teenager, and this was the story that really ignited my love of old movies.

Although some might say that the ideals in the story are dated (and they are, there’s no argument from me there!) this novel is rich in history and is so well-written that it makes it easy to visualise life in the South. While Scarlett O’Hara can be perceived as a bit of a spoilt brat, to me she is the epitome of a strong female character – even when things don’t… show more.

I love Gone with the Wind because it is witty and entertaining but it also has depth.

The main character, Scarlett O’Hara, is unpretentious and funny. It is a gripping story with romance and war running through it. There’s no doubt why this is a classic that still works today because it’s about human nature.

Scarlett O’Hara is the archetype of a strong woman who will do whatever it takes to achieve her goals.

She lies, cheats, steals, and lies some more and while readers may be aghast at her decisions, we can understand her motivations.

This book makes me question what choices I might make to survive similar circumstances. Even with its cringier elements, this is another sweeping family saga I love.

I read this book not long after my first reading of War and Peace and found that the two have a lot in common. Like War and Peace, GWTW follows a heroine from her giddy teens, through the sobering rigors of war, and into rebuilding her life after the war. And in both books, even the minor characters are vivid and well-rounded. Today, we may take issue with some of the politics in Mitchell’s book, but the novel is an accurate evocation of the politics of the time and place she’s describing. We don’t have to get nostalgic about… show more.

It’s been years since I’ve read this book and yet I could tell you a million details about the story, the main character as well as the side characters. I didn’t like the character of Scarlet for the majority of the book but I always understood her and respected her determination to survive no matter what. I can’t help but admire Margaret for writing such a strong, complex character.

As an American history enthusiast, this choice was a no-brainer for me. This is my first choice because of the well-developed characters and the particular time in history. What I particularly appreciated was the masterful way Margaret Mitchell developed Scarlett from a spoiled young woman, living a life of privilege, to a determined woman compelled to find a way for her and her family to survive during challenging times. Both Rhett and Scarlett are fascinating characters, and we see them change personally as they navigate their love story throughout the novel.

This book has all of the elements of a… show more.

Gone With the Wind is my favorite novel. Mitchell brings her characters and the event of the Civil War alive. This taught me more about the Civil War than any historical book. It begins at a time before the war, takes the reader through the destruction and death during the war, and brings the reader to the devastation to the South after the war. Gone With the Wind has something for everyone: romance, history, believable characters, and a great story. After almost 90 years, the book is still a great read!

Margaret Mitchell’s novel needs no introduction, being hailed as The Great American Novel. However, despite my concern of the main two characters lacking noble character, the novel has appeal. What drew me in most were the changing times and how the Civil War tore apart not only the country but individual people’s lives. One’s environment has a great impact on how they and others behave and here is where the flirtatious and shallow Scarlett redeems herself, pitching in at military hospitals and witnessing tragedy firsthand. Poverty also motivates Scarlett to harden her resolve, and it’s moments like that which, to… show more.

As a novel extolling the Confederacy and slavery, this work is problematic, to be sure. Modern readers will have to grapple with whether its merits outweigh its antiquated worldview. In the merits column: Gone with the Wind focuses on the home front and specifically the experiences of women, a topic that gets short shrift in both Civil War fiction and nonfiction. As it happens, only a small percentage of Americans were soldiers. But everyone was affected by the war, and everyone was forced to navigate a world utterly transformed. In this important way, Gone with the Wind explores experiences shared… show more.