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Now, Voyager (Femmes Fatales) Paperback – October 1, 2004

by Olive Higgins Prouty (Author)

4.6 384 ratings

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That iconic American melodrama that inspired the 1943 cult classic film starring Bette Davis.

“Don’t let’s ask for the moon! We have the stars!”

The film Now, Voyager concludes with these famous words, which reaffirmed Bette Davis’s own stardom and changed the way Americans smoked cigarettes. But few fans of this rich story know its source. Olive Higgins Prouty’s 1941 novel provides a rich, complex portrait of the inner life of its protagonist and the society she inhabits. Over half a century later, it still offers fresh and quietly radical takes on psychiatric treatment, traditional family life, female desire, and women’s agency.

Boston blueblood Charlotte Vale has led an unhappy, sheltered life. Dowdy, repressed, and pushing forty, Charlotte finds salvation in the unlikely form of a nervous breakdown, placing her at a sanitarium, where she undergoes treatment to rebuild her ravaged self-esteem and uncover her true intelligence and charm.

Femmes Fatales restores to print the best of women’s writing in the classic pulp genres of the mid-20th century. From mystery to hard-boiled noir to taboo lesbian romance, these rediscovered queens of pulp offer subversive perspectives on a turbulent era.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Like the film it inspired, Olive Higgins Prouty's Now, Voyager is as striking for the conventions it bucks as for the ones it embraces: a vivid reminder of a time when people crossed the ocean in liners and wore hats, and a hymn to an American ideal of social, moral, and emotional independence."David Leavitt, author of Equal Affections

"At last we have the moon and the stars: at last, that is, the public can read a novel on which one of Hollywood's most stirring melodramas is based. The movie Now, Voyager, a love story as well as a film about mothers and daughters, has fascinated female, feminist, and evendespite its heated heterosexual romancelesbian and gay viewers and critics. The novel promises to enhance our pleasurable perplexity about the film's many enigmas concerning the nature of women's most passionate attachments." Tania Modleski, author of Loving With a Vengeance

"What a satisfying book. At once tough-minded and terribly romantic, it sweeps us up in an ageless tale of love while foreshadowing today's notions of sexual liberation, emotional wholeness, and personal independence. Prouty is a wonderful writer, and her Charlotte Vale a timeless and very sophisticated Cinderella." Patricia Gaffney, author of The Saving Graces

"Like the film it inspired, Olive Higgins Prouty's Now, Voyager is as striking for the conventions it bucks as for the ones it embraces: a vivid reminder of a time when people crossed the ocean in liners and wore hats, and a hymn to an American ideal of social, moral, and emotional independence."―David Leavitt, author of Equal Affections

"At last we have the moon and the stars: at last, that is, the public can read a novel on which one of Hollywood's most stirring melodramas is based. The movie Now, Voyager, a love story as well as a film about mothers and daughters, has fascinated female, feminist, and even―despite its heated heterosexual romance―lesbian and gay viewers and critics. The novel promises to enhance our pleasurable perplexity about the film's many enigmas concerning the nature of women's most passionate attachments." ―Tania Modleski, author of Loving With a Vengeance

"What a satisfying book. At once tough-minded and terribly romantic, it sweeps us up in an ageless tale of love while foreshadowing today's notions of sexual liberation, emotional wholeness, and personal independence. Prouty is a wonderful writer, and her Charlotte Vale a timeless and very sophisticated Cinderella." ―Patricia Gaffney, author of The Saving Graces

About the Author

Olive Higgins Prouty (1882-1974), like many of her characters a wealthy Bostonian, was the author of ten novels, including Stella Dallas (1923), which became the basis for three films and a long-running radio serial. A graduate of Smith College, Prouty endowed a writer's scholarship at Smith that was received by Sylvia Plath, who later portrayed her patron unflatteringly in The Bell Jar.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Feminist Press at CUNY (October 1, 2004)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1558614761
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1558614765
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.1 x 0.8 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,207,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4,727 in Literary Criticism & Theory
- #31,099 in Women Sleuths (Books)
- #53,184 in Literary Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 384 ratings

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Jan R. S.

big bette davis fan; loved the movie!

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024

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the movie was much like the books with some variations of course. but as i read the book, I just pictured Bette Davis (my very favorite movie star) as Charlotte/Camille and I was just immersed in the story from then on.
this story is sad, humorous, happy, strong, weak, so many things. It is, of course, dated, but one can forgive that and dive in to her life and feelings. if you liked the movie (I loved it!), you'll like the book.

Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2019

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This was extremely difficult to review in today’s terms. Given the era it was written in we have to take things in context, for example the fact it is only after a weight and clothes metamorphosis that Charlotte finds confidence. That it took this change for men to find her attractive seems sexist, trivialising the situation and putting women back a few years, but here it makes sense.

This is about someone whose confidence has been taken away, someone who has a breakdown and who somehow finds the strength to change for herself because she recognises the need. Yes it is initially because of a man but it’s not quite that simple either for he is the opposite of the alpha male. He is just a nice man trying to do the right thing for those he loves and in some ways someone afraid to stand up for himself. We as readers feel he would have seen past Charlotte no matter her surface looks because he is again, a nice man even ordinary. The important thing here is that subconsciously she knows that and this is the reason she gains in strength. It’s not the lover who brings the changes out in her, it’s the essence of the man, this particular man who has a good heart.

There are depths in the plot that are fascinating and enthralling once we understand we have to read beyond the words, and understand the era and subtlety of the author’s design. There is so much more here than simple romantic love and it makes us reflect hard on our own beliefs. In this novel passionate and sex filled scenes don’t exist but love most definitely does exist.

After the novel ends (this particular edition I think) there are some additional notes/studies about the plot, writing and the author. This gave a sweetened insight coming as it did, from professionals in the profession, and is very worthwhile reading just on its own. You don’t need the analysis but it is an amazing learning curve and I highly recommend it.

Final thoughts - I loved it.

23 people found this helpful

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Bookchild

Now, Voyager's Original Story

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2013

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Since the film has been a favorite of mine for many years, I thought I should give the book a chance. It was quite good and even though there are no surprises that were not included in the film version, I found that it made the characters more human and appealing. It is a very old fasioned story, so be prepared to read with an open mind, but I would reccommend it to any film buffs, especailly those who rate Now, Voyager among the best of its genre

7 people found this helpful

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Phyllis Antebi Ph.D

A Woman Individuated

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2013

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This is a story about a woman transformed from a spinster-like quality of life to one of engagement and personal fulfillment. That old adage, "All you need is love", seems to be true in this novel about romance on the high seas and in the mansion on Marlborough Street, Boston. The book is meant to be contemporaneous with the times in which it was published. The transformation of Charlotte Vale to Camille then back to Charlotte-reborn, may be a bit schmaltzy for contemporary tastes, yet it's still a classic in its own right. 'Now Voyager' was classified as "pulp" fiction meant for mass readership in the nineteen forties. However, this book was much more than "pulp" to me. Finding the "will" to love and the "love" to will is one of many themes fundamental to Prouty's novel. The story is made sweet by the simplicity of this theme. It is made unforgettable by the beauty and style of its prose. Few characters adorn this novel. There are few highs, and few lows. Sometimes beautiful things come in small packages, and this package is both small and beautiful. If you experienced your mother as over-bearing and controlling, then you probably could identify with Charlotte's struggle to free herself from the bonds of maternal love ambiguously expressed. We call this process , separation-individuation, and without becoming too clinical, good parenting is about facilitating this process. In Charlotte's case, her mothers' over-protection and hypercritical style left her with gaping holes in her emotional development it takes a full novel in space and time, to fill. In real life, Charlotte steps out of the novel and onto the screen, catapulting its star, Bette Davis, and the movie version to new heights. Who among us can forget that stunning woman slightly shielded by the brim of her enormous hat, stepping off the runway of the cruise ship? What happens on that cruise and who she meets is what makes this novel -movie about love. What happens in the aftermath of Charlotte's seduction, is a story about redemption. In the spirit of this enduring psychological portrait, we learn that although our experiences make us who we are, how we deal with the pain is what defines us. I highly recommend the movie adaptation as it captures the times, the setting, and its characters with Prouty's characteristic intent. Isn't her message all about letting go, rather than holding on?

11 people found this helpful

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Janice

Ahead of its time

Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2022

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I bought this book because of the Bette Davis movie. The movie stayed true to the book, but of course you pick up more nuances in reading. I loved it. It throws out a few conventions about women that were ahead of its time and it stays relevant today. In a world and society that pushes you to couple up, the ending was satisfying and interesting. The afterword is highly recommended reading as well. This author deserves more recognition than she gets, for once Hollywood being a positive influence as it made movies out of her works otherwise I never would have heard of her. And that’s the sad thing.

9 people found this helpful

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Elaine Rivet

If you loved the film...

Reviewed in Canada on April 26, 2020

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If you loved the film with Bette Davis, you’ll love the book. Many of the dialogues in the film are taken verbatim from the story. The characters are true to Prouty’s writing. A real pleasure to read.

Brian Robertson

Great service by Hay - on Wye Booksellers.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 1, 2020

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The movie "Now, Voyager" starring Bette Davis has always been one of my favourite films. Now I can enjoy reading the novel by Olive Higgins Prouty. I purchased on Amazon via Hay - on - Wye Booksellers. The book was as described & in perfect condition. The service - speed of dispatch & delivery - was super & I can highly recommend them as a reliable supplier of good quality books.

Eli Phant

Modeblog > Filmtipp > Buch: zu welchen Veränderungen ein Mensch fähig sein kann

Reviewed in Germany on February 26, 2015

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habe den Tipp zum Film in einem Modeblog (schon vor einigen Monaten) entdeckt und mir dann endlich mal den Film angesehen. Da ich Filme mit Bette Davies liebe und sie wie gewohnt fantastisch spielt, hat mir der Film gut gefallen- das Thema ist durchaus ungewöhnlich für einen Hollywood Film. Das Buch wird mit "female pulp" beworben, was vielleicht mehr in der Gesellschaft der 40er Jahre des letzten Jahrhunderts anzusiedeln ist.
In der Story geht es um eine Frau, die es bislang nicht geschafft hat sich den Zwängen ihres Lebens zu erwehren und daran schwer erkrankt- um dann mit Hilfe eines Arztes und liebenden Menschen ihren eigenen Weg zu finden. Hierin sehe ich einen durchaus aktuellen Bezug und die Faszination liegt für mich darin, wie sehr ein Mensch sich verändern kann, wenn er/ SIE den Mut aufbringt, aufzubrechen (now, voyager!) und für sich selbst einen Weg aus alten Zwängen hin zu einem selbstbestimmten Leben zu suchen und auch zu finden.

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