num_pages: 224
description: A literary historical novel detailing the horrors faced by institutionalized women in 19th century Parissoon to be a major film with Amazon Studios 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 and cast out from society. But the truth is much more complicatedthese women are often simply inconvenient unwanted wives those who have lost something precious wayward daughters or girls born from adulterous relationships. For Parisian society the highlight of the year is the Lenten ballthe Madwomens Ballwhen 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 placed her faith in both the celebrated psychiatrist Dr. Charcot and science. But everything begins to change when she meets Eugeniethe 19-year-old daughter of a bourgeois family that has locked her away in the asylum. Because Eugenie has a secret: she sees spirits. Inspired by the scandalous banned work that all of Paris is talking about The Book of Spirits Eugenie is determined to escape from the asylumand the bonds of her genderand seek out those who will believe in her. And for that she will need Genevieve's help . . .
language: English
title: The Mad Women's Ball
publisher: Harry N. Abrams