"Sexing the Cherry" Summary

Introduction

Picture a city where time bends, oranges glow like lanterns, and women leap across centuries in a single step. Welcome to Sexing the Cherry by Jeanette Winterson—a dazzling, genre-defying novel that whirls between 17th-century England and the realms of myth, feminism, and philosophy. Published in 1989, this book is a staple in contemporary British literature courses, celebrated for its poetic prose, radical themes, and irrepressible imagination.

Winterson’s novel isn’t content to sit quietly on the shelf. It crashes through literary conventions, blending historical fiction, fantasy, and postmodern narrative tricks. At its heart are two unforgettable characters: the Dog Woman, a grotesquely large, fiercely loving mother, and her adoptive son, Jordan, whose longing for discovery sends him—and us—on journeys far beyond the ordinary. Sexing the Cherry is a love letter to possibility, a meditation on the limits of history, and a rallying cry for gender and sexual liberation.

If you crave stories that challenge the boundaries of time, identity, and narrative itself, buckle up—this summary is your ticket into Winterson’s wild, wondrous world.

Historical Context

England in Upheaval

Winterson sets much of her novel in 17th-century London, a city reeling with change. The English Civil War (1642–1651) pits Royalists against Parliamentarians, culminating in the execution of King Charles I. Political instability, Puritanical fervor, and the rise of scientific discovery all shape the city’s feverish energy.

But Winterson doesn’t treat history as a backdrop—she bends and reshapes it, using the past as a stage for her characters’ personal revolutions. The Dog Woman and Jordan move through a world both meticulously detailed and entirely fantastical, where oranges are rare treasures and the River Thames teems with possibility.

Real-Life Inspirations

• The Dog Woman reflects the archetype of the powerful, marginalized mother, echoing figures from folklore and feminist history.
• Jordan’s adventures riff on real 17th-century explorers—think Sir Walter Raleigh or John Tradescant, a gardener and adventurer whose name even appears in the novel.
• Winterson also draws on fairy tales, especially the story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, reimagining them as voices of female agency.

Brief Synopsis

Plot Overview

At its core, Sexing the Cherry follows the intertwined adventures of the Dog Woman and her adopted son, Jordan. The Dog Woman, a giantess and fruit seller, navigates the chaos of Civil War London, her physical presence larger than life and her moral code both fierce and flexible.

Jordan, restless and dreamy, wants more than the muddy streets and political upheaval of London—he craves discovery. With the help of John Tradescant and a magical ship, he embarks on fantastical journeys through time and space, searching for the mysterious Fortunata, one of the legendary Twelve Dancing Princesses.

But plot is only half the story. The novel careens through digressions, fables, and philosophical musings, blurring the line between fantasy and reality. The result is a narrative as fluid as the river that runs through it.

Setting

Time: Primarily 17th-century London, with frequent leaps across centuries (including glimpses of 20th-century England).

Place: From the filth and vibrancy of London’s markets and docks to far-flung, magical lands reached by Jordan’s imagination. The Thames is both a literal and metaphorical river of change.

Atmosphere: By turns gritty, grotesque, and lushly poetic; the story is dense with smells, sounds, and colors. Winterson’s London is a place of possibility—where oranges and time travel are equally miraculous.

Main Characters

Plot Summary

London Beginnings

The novel opens with the Dog Woman’s earthy, unflinching voice. She discovers Jordan as a baby floating in the Thames, wrapped in a basket—an origin story with Biblical echoes. She raises him amid the stink and squalor of 17th-century London, her immense presence both shielding and isolating them from the world’s cruelties.

Jordan grows up enchanted by stories and longing for adventure. He’s drawn to the river, to maps, and to the idea that the world holds more than the Dog Woman’s mud-caked markets.

Adventures and Fantasies

Guided by the eccentric gardener John Tradescant, Jordan sets sail on a magical ship. His travels blur the boundary between reality and fantasy—he meets philosophers, falls in love with the mysterious Fortunata, and encounters the Twelve Dancing Princesses, each with her own tale of rebellion against oppressive men.

Meanwhile, the Dog Woman becomes entangled in the English Civil War, fighting for justice in her own unruly way. She allies with the Parliamentarians, crushes Royalists, and dispenses her own brand of rough morality.

Time-Travel and Transformation

Winterson’s narrative leaps fluidly between centuries. In modern-day London, echoes of the Dog Woman and Jordan resurface—suggesting that the boundaries between past and present, male and female, self and other, are as porous as the river’s edge.

The story culminates in a meditation on freedom, love, and the search for meaning. The Dog Woman and Jordan, forever bound by love, drift on the river—literal and metaphorical—toward new possibilities.

Themes and Motifs

Table: Central Themes and Motifs

Literary Techniques and Style

Narrative Structure

Winterson abandons linear storytelling, favoring a fragmented, kaleidoscopic structure. Chapters alternate between the Dog Woman’s earthy monologues and Jordan’s lyrical, introspective voice. Interludes feature the tales of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, each offering a twist on traditional fairy tales.

Language and Symbolism

Winterson’s prose is lush and poetic, packed with vivid imagery—rotting fruit, glittering oranges, the “bitter stink” of the city. Oranges symbolize both exotic possibility and the fleeting nature of beauty. The river Thames is a living metaphor, representing time, change, and the fluidity of identity.

Postmodern Playfulness

The novel is self-aware, with characters reflecting on the act of storytelling itself. Winterson mixes historical figures with myth and fantasy, challenging readers to question what’s “real.” The blending of genres and eras is a hallmark of postmodern literature.

Humor and Grotesque

Winterson’s humor is bawdy and irreverent. The Dog Woman’s enormous size is both comic and symbolic—a rebuke to societal expectations of femininity. Grotesque details (warts, stench, violence) ground the fantasy in physical reality.

Author's Background

Jeanette Winterson: Literary Maverick

Jeanette Winterson was born in Manchester, England in 1959. Raised in a strict Pentecostal household, she ran away from home at 16. Her debut novel, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (1985), won the Whitbread Prize for First Novel and established her as a bold new voice.

Winterson’s work is known for its experimental style, feminist themes, and exploration of sexuality and identity. She is openly lesbian and a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Sexing the Cherry is part of her celebrated “historical quartet,” which also includes The Passion and Written on the Body.

Winterson’s impact on contemporary literature is profound—she helped pave the way for queer and feminist storytelling in the mainstream. Her writing blends wit, lyricism, and philosophical depth, making her a favorite among students and scholars.

Key Takeaways

• History is not fixed: Winterson shows that the past can be re-imagined, and stories can free us from determinism.
• Gender is fluid: The Dog Woman and Jordan challenge traditional gender roles, anticipating modern queer theory.
• Stories have power: Narrative is a tool for liberation, justice, and self-invention.
• Love transcends boundaries: Maternal, romantic, and platonic love all drive the characters' quests for meaning.
• Imagination is revolutionary: The novel urges readers to envision new worlds and possibilities.

Reader's Takeaway

Sexing the Cherry isn’t just a novel—it’s an experience. Winterson’s writing will make you laugh, cringe, and gasp in wonder—all within a few pages. If you’ve ever felt out of place, questioned the rules, or wanted to rewrite your own story, you’ll find a kindred spirit here.

The book invites you to step outside the boundaries of gender, time, and convention. It’s a celebration of difference, a call to arms for the imagination, and a reminder that we are all, in some way, searching for freedom.

Conclusion

Jeanette Winterson’s Sexing the Cherry is a riotous, inventive, and fiercely intelligent novel—one that defies categorization and rewards adventurous readers. With its unforgettable characters, dazzling prose, and radical vision, it stands as a modern classic of feminist and queer literature.

Whether you’re a student, a lecturer, or just a curious reader, this book will stretch your mind and stir your heart. Dive into its pages, and let Winterson show you how history can be rewritten, love can be boundless, and the impossible is always possible.

Curious to know what happens when a giant woman, a dreamer, and a dozen rebellious princesses take on the world? There’s only one way to find out—open the book, and let the journey begin.