Christie Johnstone (novel)

Christie Johnstone is an 1853 novel by Scottish author Charles Reade. It is a romantic comedy set primarily in the fishing village of Newhaven, near Edinburgh. The story revolves around the titular character, Christie Johnstone, a strong-willed and unconventional fisherwoman, and her relationship with Charles Hyacinth Rochdale, a wealthy but melancholic artist.

Rochdale, disillusioned with the artificiality of high society, encounters Christie and her fellow Newhaven fishwives while sketching along the coast. He is immediately captivated by their naturalness, their strength, and particularly by Christie's independent spirit and sharp wit. Inspired, he attempts to engage with their lives, initially as an observer and later as a participant.

The novel explores themes of class differences, social hypocrisy, and the value of living authentically. Reade contrasts the artificiality of the upper classes with the perceived honesty and vitality of the working class, particularly the Newhaven fisherfolk. He also examines the romantic ideals of the time, challenging conventional notions of beauty and social status.

Christie Johnstone is noted for its depiction of Scottish vernacular and for its strong female characters. It was a popular success in its time and helped to establish Reade's reputation as a novelist. While occasionally criticized for romanticizing the working class, the novel remains a significant example of Victorian social commentary and romantic fiction. The plot also contains elements of social critique directed at the prison system of the time.