The Getting of Wisdom facts for kids
1960 Heinemann edition (UK)
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| Author | Henry Handel Richardson |
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| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Genre | children's literature |
| Publisher | Heinemann, UK; Duffield, USA |
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Publication date
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1910 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 274 (first edition) |
| ISBN | 0-435-12051-4 |
| OCLC | 5913890 |
| Preceded by | Maurice Guest |
| Followed by | Australia Felix |
The Getting of Wisdom is a classic novel by an Australian writer named Henry Handel Richardson. It was first published in 1910. This means it's been around for a very long time! People have enjoyed reading it almost constantly since it came out.
Contents
Discovering the Story's Roots
Henry Handel Richardson was the pen name for Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson. She was born in 1870. Her family was once quite comfortable. However, they later faced financial difficulties.
A Writer's School Days
Ethel's family lived in different towns in Victoria. From ages 13 to 17, she attended a boarding school. This school was the Presbyterian Ladies' College in Melbourne. Her experiences there directly inspired The Getting of Wisdom.
Meet Laura: A Young Girl's Journey
The main character of the novel is Laura Tweedle Rambotham. She is the oldest child in her country family. Laura is a very smart and imaginative girl. She loves making up romantic stories for her younger brothers and sisters. She also enjoys reading many books.
Laura's Personality and Family Life
Laura is both proud and sensitive. Her mother finds her a bit difficult to manage. Laura's mother is a widow. She supports her family by doing embroidery. They live in a way that looks nice but isn't very rich.
Starting Boarding School
When Laura is twelve, she is sent to a boarding school in Melbourne. Her time at school is a big shock for her. Laura is not used to the ways of the world. The other girls at the school usually come from wealthy families. Girls like Laura, who are less fortunate, quickly learn to hide their family's situation. They fear being made fun of.
Challenges and Fitting In
Sometimes, Laura accidentally shares small details about her family. When she does, she faces teasing and difficulty. The story shows how much the girls fear what others think. They really want to fit in. They also feel embarrassed about their families if their parents work for a living. Some girls even try to make themselves look better by putting others down.
Laura's Transformation
Most of the girls and even the teachers in the school seem to care only about themselves. They can be quite rude. Laura starts out as a strong and hopeful young girl. But she slowly begins to act the way others expect her to. The book is really about how a young person's innocence can be lost.
Laura's Final Moments at School
Towards the end of the book, Laura feels a sense of freedom. She convinces herself that cheating on an exam was somehow God's will. Later, she decides she was wrong to cheat. But she also thinks that since she wasn't caught, God didn't actually punish her. This shows how she tries to make sense of her actions. When Laura leaves the school for the last time, she feels a strong urge to run. The story ends with her quickly disappearing into a park. She is finally free from the strict rules of the school. She is free from the teachers' expectations and the other girls' unkindness.
Film Version of the Book
In 1978, The Getting of Wisdom was made into a movie. The film has the same name as the book. Bruce Beresford directed the movie. The script was written by Eleanor Witcombe.
