The Mad Women's Ball
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The Mad Women's Ball
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Narrated by:
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Kristin Atherton
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
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....
©2021 Victoria Mas (P)2021 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"A darkly sumptuous tale of wicked spectacle, wild injustice and the insuppressible strength of women." (Emma Stonex, Sunday Times best-selling author of The Lamplighters)
"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)
What listeners say about The Mad Women's Ball
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Jo
- 30-07-22
worth the listen
some parts of the narrative are meandering and repetitive, but it was pleasant to listen to overall a worthwhile story.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 05-01-24
The 'mad' women
I really enjoyed this book. The relationships between the women in the Salpiere, their support and care for each other. Great narrator too
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-01-23
Incredible
Absolutely loved everything about this, the writing, the emotion, even the narrators voice. Best book I’ve listened to this year!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- JL M.
- 21-03-22
An enjoyable, quick listen
This is an enjoyable listen. The writing is direct and effective and the performance clear and atmospheric. It is a relatively quick listen but even so you become invested in the characters and their fates. Would recommend.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- miowka
- 21-08-22
control of women in history
gives an understanding of the use of instutionalisation to control non-conforming women, especially in the areas of education, obedience and sexuality.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gatsby
- 24-03-23
Lost in translation
Didn't enjoy the narrator. Important part of history to remember - women controlled by men.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Isabel
- 04-11-22
Quite enthralling
I’ll leave fuller reviews for other listeners, but have two comments to make. 1. Please do give this book a go. 2. Why oh why do female narrators feel the need to try and put on a male voice. It does not work! No, no, no! This aside, a great book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Marina
- 02-12-23
Interesting true story with great characters. I recommend
Great story, I really enjoyed it! I did some research into Jane Avril for a art muse, doll that I made. It was good to hear her mentioned in this story. To read about Shan Avril’s experience at Salpêtrière Hospital, and her rise to fame at The Moulin Rouge, look up marinamade.me.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Lauryn
- 13-04-22
Good listen
Loved a good few of the characters, very female orientated and interesting story. Not too many plot lines to try and follow so it’s and easy listen. If you like female focused historical fiction, with gothic and very slight horror elements you’ll enjoy this.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- min
- 08-04-24
Well written but I didn't enjoy it
It was a sad book. Made me feel very uneasy throughout and maybe that was the intention. There was such a thing as the mad women's ball tho... amazingly.
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