The Illness Lesson

Sarah Waters meets The Girls in this haunting, wickedly perceptive debut set in an all-girls school and addressing the timeless question- Who has authority over a woman’s body? ‘A modern scream of female outrage’ Elizabeth Gilbert

‘A modern scream of female outrage. A masterpiece’ ELIZABETH GILBERT

‘Astoundingly original … belongs on the shelf with your Margaret Atwood’ NEW YORK TIMES

Haunting, intense and irresistible, The Illness Lesson is an extraordinary debut about women’s minds and bodies, and the time-honoured tradition of doubting both.

In 1871, at an elite new school designed to shape the minds of young women, the inscrutable and defiant Eliza Bell has been overwhelmed by an inexplicable illness.

Before long, the other girls start to succumb to its peculiar symptoms - rashes, tics, night wanderings and fits.

As the disease takes hold, teacher Caroline Hood tries desperately to hide her own symptoms, but the powers-that-be turn to a sinister physician with dubious methods.

Does Caroline have the courage to confront the all-male, all-knowing authorities of her world and protect the young women in her care?

‘You want to know how horrifying things happened while decent people looked on and did nothing? Read this novel’ MARY BETH KEANE

‘Subtle, clever, suspenseful … builds to a shocking climax’ DIANE SETTERFIELD

‘A Sunday Times Book to Read in 2020- A classic ghost story for fans of Picnic at Hanging Rock, Deborah Levy, Jeffrey Eugenides’ SUNDAY TIMES STYLE