Two Serious Ladies

The eccentric and adventurous Cristina Gö ring meets at a party an anxious but equally determined Mrs. Copperfield. Two serious ladies, passionately wanting to break out of their shells, set off to find themselves: Mrs. Copperfield—together with her husband in Panama, where she finds comfort among women from brothels; and Miss Gö ring discovers new men. The two ladies meet again. Transformed by experience, they are no longer the dissatisfied representatives of high society living tidy lives. But who are they now? An anarchic, deep, and very funny “Two Serious Ladies”—a story that can’t be fitted into any categories. Many know Jane Bowles as the wife of Paul Bowles, a recognized classic of twentieth-century American literature. However, Jane is an unrecognized genius. Though her works aren’t numerous, Jane Bowles is rightfully considered one of the best writers of her generation. Her prose is sharp as a razor—funny and extremely intelligent. It captures that elusive state of a woman who lives “properly,” hiding inside her shell, yet desperately wants to step out of her comfort zone—even if beyond it may be dangerous.