Wicked Women

Wicked Women is a 1995 collection of 20 short stories by Fay Weldon that won the PEN/Macmillan Silver Pen Award. The stories are organized into six thematic sections, examining wickedness across different groups: women, men, children, supernatural beings, lovers, and therapy patients. The collection centers on characters who navigate complex relationships, family dynamics, and social expectations with dark humor. Weldon examines marriages, affairs, parent-child relationships, and therapeutic encounters, presenting flawed characters who often behave badly. The characters in these stories range from unfaithful spouses and manipulative parents to vengeful children and dubious mental health professionals. Each tale presents a distinct scenario of human misbehavior in domestic and professional settings. Through these interconnected stories, Weldon challenges traditional notions of morality and explores how power dynamics and social pressures can drive people to act wickedly. The collection presents a sharp critique of modern relationships while maintaining a satirical edge.

Readers describe this short story collection as dark, vengeful tales focused on relationships and marriage. Many note the black humor and cynical tone throughout the 20 stories. Readers appreciate Weldon's sharp observations about human nature and her unflinching portrayal of flawed characters, particularly manipulative women. Multiple reviews mention the satisfaction of seeing "wicked" characters get their comeuppance. The tight, economical writing style earns praise. Common criticisms include stories feeling too similar in theme and tone, with some readers finding the persistent cynicism overwhelming. Several reviews note that the characters lack depth and feel more like caricatures. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (238 ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) "Deliciously vengeful but ultimately exhausting" - Goodreads reviewer "Like bitter chocolate - dark and satisfying but best consumed in small doses" - Amazon review "The stories blur together after a while" - LibraryThing review

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Little Tales of Misogyny by Patricia Highsmith These brief, sharp tales examine the darker aspects of gender relations and marriage through scenarios where characters execute calculated acts of wickedness.

The Safety of Objects by A. M. Homes Through interconnected stories set in suburban environments, this collection reveals the hidden dysfunctions and power struggles within families and relationships.

You Know You Want This by Kristen Roupenian These stories examine contemporary relationships and social dynamics through scenarios where characters transgress moral boundaries and societal expectations.

Bad Behavior by Mary Gaitskill This collection presents characters who navigate complex power dynamics and moral ambiguities in their personal and professional relationships.

🔸 Fay Weldon worked as an advertising copywriter in the 1950s and coined the famous slogan "Go to work on an egg," which became one of Britain's most memorable advertising campaigns. 🔸 The author's parents divorced when she was young, leading her and her sister to be raised by their mother and grandmother - a dynamic that often influences her exploration of female relationships in her work. 🔸 Despite being known for feminist themes, Weldon caused controversy in feminist circles with her 1980s stance supporting cosmetic surgery and her belief that women should sometimes compromise to maintain relationships. 🔸 Weldon didn't publish her first novel until age 37, yet went on to write over 30 novels, numerous TV dramas, radio plays, and short story collections across a five-decade career. 🔸 "Wicked Women" was published in 1997, during a period when Weldon was also teaching creative writing at universities in both the UK and US, including Brunel University and St Mary's College.