'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
