The Mad Women’s Ball

Mas, Victoria

£8.99

The Salpetriere asylum, Paris, 1885. Dr Charcot holds all of Paris in thrall with his displays of hypnotism on women who have been deemed mad, hysterics, and been cast out from society. But the truth is much more complicated – these women are often simply inconvenient, unwanted wives, those who have lost something precious, or wayward daughters. For Parisian society, the highlight of the year is The Mad Women’s Ball, when the great and good come to gawk at the patients of the Salpetriere dressed up in their finery for one night only. For the women themselves it is a rare moment of hope. Genevieve is a senior nurse – after the childhood death of her sister Blandine, she shunned religion and has placed her faith in Dr Charcot and science. But everything begins to change when she meets Eugenie, the 19 year old daughter of a bourgeois family who have locked her away in the asylum.

Out of stock

Publish Date: 17/02/2022

Description

‘A darkly sumptuous tale of wicked spectacle, wild injustice and the insuppressible strength of women’ EMMA STONEX, author of THE LAMPLIGHTERS

‘An essential story of women resisting the unjust exertion of male power’ SUNDAY TIMES

____________________

The Salpêtrière 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 strong-willed daughters. Once a year a grand ball is held at the hospital. For the Parisian elite, the Mad Women’s Ball is the highlight of the social season; for the women themselves, it is a rare moment of hope.

Geneviève 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 Eugénie, the 19-year-old daughter of a bourgeois family. Because Eugénie has a secret, and she needs Geneviève’s help. Their fates will collide on the night of the Mad Women’s 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 BIRD

‘Essential reading’ COSMOPOLITAN

‘A deftly woven tale of hope and pain, judgement and redemption, cruelty and kindness. Utterly captivating and profoundly affecting.’ Sunday Times bestseller, MIRANDA DICKENSON

‘Enter the dance of this little masterpiece and let yourself be dazzled. Assured of hitting the bestseller lists’ THE PARISIAN

____________________

AN AMAZON PRIME ORIGINAL FILM STARRING MÉLANIE LAURENT

Additional information

Weight 151 g
Dimensions 198 × 127 × 14 mm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Paperback

Pages

210

Language

English

Edition

1st paperback ed

Dewey

843.92 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K