Potterism: A Tragi-Farcical Tract

"Potterism: A Tragi-Farcical Tract" by Rose Macaulay is a satirical novel written during the early 20th century. The book follows the lives of twins Johnny and Jane Potter as they navigate post-Oxford life amidst the conflicting influences of their parents, particularly their mother, Leila Yorke, a novelist, and their father, a newspaper press owner. The siblings harbor ambitions for literary careers, yet they are determined to critique and distance themselves from what they perceive as the mediocrity epitomized by "Potterism," a term used to denote their family's legacy in literature and journalism. At the start of the narrative, we are introduced to the Potters, who have just completed their university education. The twins' backgrounds reveal their mixed feelings toward their parents' work; they grapple with notions of duty, ambition, and societal expectations. Their mother expresses a desire to write an Oxford novel, which the twins spontaneously reject, showcasing the generational differences in their creative pursuits. As the twins return home and discuss their futures, the themes of ambition, family dynamics, and societal critique are woven throughout, setting the stage for exploration of the concept of Potterism as they react to the broader social changes of their time. Jane, in particular, is depicted with a strong desire to forge her own identity, pushing against the constraints of her upbringing and the expected roles of women in society.