Scarlett's Women. 'Gone with the Wind' and its Female Fans

Study by Professor Helen Taylor of the way in which female fans engaged with 'Gone with the Wind.' First published in 1989, it is here reissued to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the film's release, with a new introduction. The study discusses the history of the book's writing, publication and screen adaptation, the film's production, release, reception and legacy, drawing throughout upon the results of over 300 questionnaires that Taylor sent out to 'Gone with the Wind' fans. Their contributions reveal how these fans - almost all female - responded to issues such as the relationship between Rhett and Scarlett, sexual politics, the depiction of slavery and the Klu Klux Klan, the unresolved ending and its authenticity as historical drama. Taylor notes the varied and contradictory nature of the responses, arguing that the legendary status of 'Gone with the Wind' owes much to the highly personal reading/viewing experience of its female fans.