Lady Good-for-Nothing: A Man's Portrait of a Woman by Arthur Quiller-Couch is a satirical novel in British literature that offers a scathing critique of Victorian society's gender roles and attitudes towards women's rights. Through biting irony and keen social commentary, Quiller-Couch exposes the pervasive misogyny of the era while delving into the complexities of romanticism and morality. Set against the backdrop of Victorian society, the novel explores the character portrayal of the titular Lady Good-for-Nothing, presenting her as a caricature of societal expectations and gender norms. Through her experiences and interactions, Quiller-Couch sheds light on the hypocrisy and double standards that permeate Victorian culture. With its sharp wit and incisive commentary, 'Lady Good-for-Nothing' serves as both a critique of Victorian morality and a reflection of the societal caricature of women during the era. Quiller-Couch's exploration of gender roles and societal expectations remains relevant today, making this novel a compelling piece of social satire that continues to resonate with readers."
Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch was a British author who wrote under the name Q. He was born on November 21, 1863, and died on May 12, 1944. Even though he wrote a lot of novels, he is best known for his literary criticism and the massive book The Oxford Book of English Verse 1250–1900 (later expanded to 1918). Many people, including the American author Helene Hanff, who wrote 84, Charing Cross Road and its follow-up, Q's Legacy, were inspired by him even though they never met him. His Oxford Book of English Verse was a favorite of Horace Rumpole, a figure in John Mortimer's stories. Arthur Quiller-Couch was born in England in the town of Bodmin in the county of Cornwall. He was born to Dr. Thomas Quiller Couch (d. 1884), a famous doctor, folklorist, and scholar who married Mary Ford and lived at 63 Fore Street, Bodmin, until he died there in 1884. Thomas was born from the marriage of two very old families in the area: The Couch family and the Quiller family. Arthur was the third smart person in the Couch family to come from that line. Jonathan Couch, his grandpa, was a naturalist, a doctor, a historian, a classicist, an apothecary, and an artist (mostly of fish). He had two younger sisters named Florence Mabel and Lilian M. who were also artists and folklorists.
