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The Stepford Wives

The Stepford Wives

HorrorMystery
Pages
234
Published
1972
Language
English

Synopsis

Joanna Eberhart, a photographer and mother, moves to a seemingly perfect Connecticut suburb. She soon notices that the other wives are unnervingly passive and compliant. As she investigates, she uncovers a disturbing secret about the town and its residents.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

DarkTenseMysteriousSatiricalThought-Provoking
Fish Out of WaterSecret IdentityBetrayal

Genres

Horror Mystery Science Fiction Thriller Classics Satire

About the author

I
Ira Levin

Ira Levin (1929–2007) was an American novelist, playwright, and songwriter whose tautly plotted thrillers repeatedly crossed into the cultural mainstream. Born in New York City and educated at New York University, he published his first novel, the crime thriller A Kiss Before Dying, in 1953 while still in his early twenties; it won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. His 1967 horror novel Rosemary's Baby became the best-selling horror novel of the decade and, with Roman Polanski's 1968 film, a...

Characters

Joanna EberhartProtagonist
Dale 'Diz' CobaAntagonist

President of the Stepford Men's Association and a former theme-park animatronics engineer.

All characters in The Stepford Wives

Frequently asked questions

  • How does the book compare to the film adaptations?

    The 1975 film adaptation is widely considered to be more faithful to the tone and plot of the original novel than the 2004 remake, which shifts the narrative toward a more comedic style.

  • Are there any sequels to this story?

    While the novel itself is a standalone work, the 1975 film adaptation inspired three made-for-television sequels titled Revenge of the Stepford Wives, The Stepford Children, and The Stepford Husbands.

  • What is the origin of the term Stepford wife?

    The novel became so culturally significant that the term Stepford wife entered the American lexicon to describe a woman who conforms to a subservient, traditional role in a robotic or mindless fashion.

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