The Stone Angel

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The Stone Angel, first published in 1964 by McClelland and Stewart, is perhaps the best-known of Margaret Laurence's series of novels set in the fictitious town of Manawaka, Manitoba. In parallel narratives set in the past and the present-day (early 1960s), The Stone Angel tells the story of Hagar Currie Shipley. In the present-day narrative, 90-year-old Hagar is struggling against being put in a nursing home, which she sees as a symbol of death. The present-day narrative alternates with Hagar's looking back at her life.

1 Plot summary
2 Literary significance and criticism
3 Awards and recognition
4 See also
5 Footnotes
6 External links

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Although she is bold and brave, Hagar tends to be secluded and very ignorant. The Stone Angel is the story of a woman who through her journey will eventually give up the excessive pride that she demonstrates throughout the novel. It is a highly acclaimed story of an independent woman striving to sustain herself on her own terms.

[edit] Literary significance and criticism

The book, amongst other titles by Laurence, has been banned by some school boards and high schools, usually following complaints from fundamentalist Christian groups labelling the book blasphemous and obscene^[1].

[edit] Awards and recognition

The Stone Angel was one of the selected books in the 2002 edition of Canada Reads, where it was championed by Leon Rooke.
Made into movie The Stone Angel, filmed in Winnipeg and Hartney, Manitoba. Stars Ellen Burstyn. ^[2]