A darkly sumptuous tale of wicked spectacle, wild injustice and the insuppressible strength of women EMMA STONEX, author of THE LAMPLIGHTERSAn essential story of women resisting the unjust exertion of male power SUNDAY TIMES The Salptrire asylum, 1885. All of Paris is in thrall to Doctor Charcot and his displays of hypnotism on women who have been deemed mad or hysterical, outcasts from society. But the truth is much more complicated for these women are often simply inconvenient, unwanted wives or strongwilled daughters. Once a year a grand ball is held at the hospital. For the Parisian elite, the Mad Womens Ball is the highlight of the social season for the women themselves, it is a rare moment of hope. Genevive is a senior nurse. After the childhood death of her sister, she has shunned religion and placed her faith in Doctor Charcot and his new science. But everything begins to change when she meets Eugnie, the 19yearold daughter of a bourgeois family. Because Eugnie has a secret, and she needs Genevives help. Their fates will collide on the night of the Mad Womens Ball...In this darkly delightful Gothic treasure, Mas explores grief, trauma and sisterhood behind the walls of Paris infamous Salpetriere hospital PAULA HAWKINS, author of A SLOW FIRE BURNING A beautifully written debut...I have absolutely no doubt it will be one of my favourite novels of 2021. AJ PEARCE, author of DEAR MRS BIRDEssential reading COSMOPOLITAN A deftly woven tale of hope and pain, judgement...

Binding: Paperback;544 pages; Publisher: TBS-Penguin Random House Wholesale; Classification: FA; Weight: 284 g; Dimensions: 127 x 197 x 16

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