The Madwomen of Paris: A Novel

Two women fall under the influence of a powerful doctor in Pariss notorious womens asylum in this gripping historical novel inspired by true events, from the bestselling author of Wunderland. Beautifully crafted . . . Combining elegant prose, artfully chosen historical details, and convincing characterizations, this haunting narrative showcases Epstein at her best.Publishers Weekly (starred review) When Josephine arrives at the Salptrire asylum, she is covered in blood, badly bruised, and suffering from amnesia. She is quickly diagnosed with what the Paris papers are calling the epidemic of the age: hysteria, a disease is so baffling and widespread that Doctor Jean-Martin Charcot, the asylums famous director, devotes many of his popular public lectures to the malady. Charcot often uses hypnosis to prompt his patients to reproduce their hysterical symptoms, and to his delight, Josephine proves extraordinarily susceptible to this unconscious manipulation. He is soon featuring the young woman on his stage, entrancing her into fantastical acts and hallucinatory fits before enraptured audiences and eager newsmenmany of whom feature her on their papers front pages. Laure, a ward attendant assigned to care for Charcots new favorite, knows that Josephines diagnosis is a godsend. Life in the Salptrires Hysteria ward is far easier than in its dreaded Lunacy division, from which few inmates ever return. But as Josephines fame grows, her memory starts to returnand with it, images of a terrible crime shes convinced shes committed. Haunted by these visions, and ensnared in Charcots hypnotic web, she starts spiraling into seeming insanity. Desperate to save the girl she has grown to love, Laure begins to plot their escape from the Salptrire and its doctors. First, though, she must confirm whether Josephine is truly a madwoman, doomed to die in the asylumor a murderer, destined for the guillotine. Both are dark possibilitiesbut not nearly as dark as what Laure unearths when she sets out to discover the truth.