'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
