First published 2004
Catherine writes erotic novels in secret, hiding her work from her husband while maintaining the facade of a conventional marriage. Her sister Vinny channels her literary obsessions differently, vandalizing the homes of women writers in acts of mysterious rebellion. Both sisters navigate London carrying these hidden betrayals, their deceptions creating distance in their closest relationships. When tragedy disrupts their carefully constructed lives, Catherine and Vinny must confront what their secrets have cost them and what they truly desire from their art and each other. Michèle Roberts weaves the story of the Brontë sisters throughout this contemporary narrative, creating parallels between past and present literary women. The novel examines how creative ambition and family loyalty collide, forcing both sisters to reckon with the prices they pay for their artistic longings and the bonds that survive even the deepest betrayals.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: betrayal, hidden-identity
Setting: London
Period: Contemporary
Paperback · Picador