Julia

Julia (1984) Julia, as a character, is never given a last name in George Orwell’s famous novel 1984 (indeed, the protagonist himself goes by the most common of surnames, “Smith”). Published in 1949 after World War II, it uses a science fiction genre to tell of an ominous future in which a repressed society lives in a bleak and thought-controlled post global catastrophic future. Julia and Winston Smith fall in love, conduct an affair surreptitiously, and try to plan for a future of freedom. The Thought Police are on to them, however, and they are not only betrayed by a supposed friend, they ultimately end up betraying each other and falling victim to the real aims of the Ruling Party, having glimpsed only momentarily what they had been missing all along.

Julia (The Two Gentlemen of Verona) Julia is the sometimes-love of Proteus, one of The Two Gentlemen of Verona, written by William Shakespeare around 1590-1591. Proteus and his friend, Valentine, travel to Milan to broaden their horizons. Proteus at first goes reluctantly, despairing of leaving Julia, then shortly becomes enamored of Silvia, Valentine’s newly found love. Julia follows them, and seeing her man in these circumstances, disguises herself as a lad, and becomes Proteus’ page, Sebastian. After much wandering in the Shakespearean forests of mixed identies, lovers’ betrayals, bands of marauders, and willful children, the initial lovers are finally reunited, though modern day feminists might just have a little trouble with Julia’s acquiescence with the deal.

Julia Bertram (Mansfield Park) Julia Bertram is one of four cousins of Fanny Price, the protagonist of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, published in 1814. While Fanny is gentle and virtuous, Julia (along with her sister, Maria) is vapid and self-serving. Three of the four cousins treat their impoverished cousin as their social inferior, while the fourth, Edmund, is kind to her. Needless to say, in the vernacular of the 19th century, “virtue is its own reward”, but it pays off for Fanny. Julia’s fate is not as scandalous as that her sister, who marries one yet runs away with another!

Julia Hurstwood (Sister Carrie) Julia Hurstwod figures in Theodore Dreiser’s famous 1900 novel, Sister Carrie. She is the wronged wife of the second married man with whom Carrie takes up. The first, the real, Mrs. Hurstwood, a savvy and cool social climber, is not one to take such things lying down. He leaves her and his children, but the financial consequences of doing so drive him to embezzlement and eventual ruin.

Lady Julia Flyte (Brideshead Revisited) Lady Julia Flyte is the elder daughter of Lord and Lady Marchmain in Evelyn Waugh’s 1945 classic, Brideshead Revisited. Beautiful, modern and restless, yet pulled in the opposite direction by the strong Catholic allegiances of her family, she is beloved by Charles Ryder, the narrator (perhaps in large part because she so resembles his friend, her brother, Sebastian). Although she marries another, she divorces him and strongly considers marrying Charles. Ultimately, however, she gives in to the spiritual demands of her church and decides to live alone and chaste.

Hey Julia - a song by Robert Palmer

Julia - a song by Conway Twitty

Julia - a song by the Eurythmics

Julia - a song by John Lennon

Julia - a song by The Beatles

Julia Dream - a song by Pink Floyd

Julia Says - a song by Wet Wet Wet

Julia, We Don't Live in the 60s - a song by The Indelicates

Julianna - a song by Big Head Todd & the Monsters

Gone-Away Lake (Elizabeth Enright) - Portia and her cousin Julia discover a group of abandoned summer cottages in their adventures along the lake near their home. Recommended for ages 9-12.

Julia Wants a Pet (Barbro Lindgren) - Every kid wants a pet, but none may be as ruthlessly determined to get one as little Julia. Don’t underestimate the resolve of a seven-year-old. The character of Julia is both steely and sweet – a definite force of nature! Recommended for ages 4-8.

My Daniel (Pam Conrad) - Wandering through the Natural History Museum with her grandchildren, Julia Creath feels the presence of her dead brother, Daniel. She remembers a time when fossil fever hit everyone, old and young - a time when even people would kill for those old bones under the ground. Julia becomes the Nebraska farm girl she once was, as she weaves together the story of the great dinosaur rush - an adventurous tale of love and treachery, but most of all the story of her own childhood, and of the older brother she loved more than anything. Daniel had a dream: to save their family farm by finding a dinosaur. It was a dream that Julia shared - and that she alone would see come true. Recommended for ages 9-12.

Red Woolen Blanket (Bob Graham) - Inseparable from her blanket, little Julia carries it with her everywhere until both the blanket and her need for it gradually disappear. Recommended for ages 2-6.

Summer of Fear (Lois Duncan) - From the moment Rachel's family takes in her orphaned cousin Julia, strange things start to happen. Rachel grows suspicious but soon finds herself alienated from her own life. Julia seems to have enchanted everyone to turn against her, leaving Rachel on her own to try and prove that Julia is a witch. One thing about Julia is certain-she is not who she says she is, and Rachel's family is in grave danger. Recommended for ages Young Adult.

The Ragwitch (Garth Nix) - Quiet, easygoing Paul never expected to be cast in the role of savior. But his strong-willed sister, Julia, has come under the thrall of the Ragwitch, and Paul himself is drawn not only into the creature's world but into a battle for Julia's very existence - as well as his own. Recommended for ages young adult.

Famous People Named Julia - Julia Alvarez (novelist); Julia Child (chef); Julia Migenes (opera singer); Julia Roberts (actress); Julia Grant (U.S. First Lady); Julia Louis-Dreyfus (actress); Julia Stiles (actress); Julia Sweeney (actress/comic); Julia Tyler (U.S. First Lady); Julia Ward Howe (author of Battle Hymn of the Republic); Julia Wells (aka Julie Andrews, actress); Julia Mancuso (Olympic skier); Julia Dean (actress); Julia Lennon (mother of John Lennon); Julia Morgan (architect); Julia Murney (actress); Julia Newmeyer (actress); Julia Ormond (actress)

Famous People who Named their Daughter Julia - Caesar Augustus (first Emperor of the Roman Empire); Charlie Schlatter (actor); John Tyler (U.S. President); Josh Hamilton (baseball player); Julian Bond (activist); Laurence Olivier (actor); Vendela (model)