The Mad Womens Ball - Victoria Mas

The Mad Women's Ball was an impulse purchase in Waterstones... and yes, it's because I absolutely fell in love with the cover.

Set in a 19th century asylum in Paris, the book follows two women - Genevieve, the matron of the Salpetriere Asylum and Eugenie, the daughter of a well-respected family.

After finding a long lost necklace amongst the furniture, Eugenie confides in her grandmother that her dead grandfather had told her where it was. But her relatives take this is a sign that she is mad and quickly sends her off to the asylum.

Genevieve mistrusts her almost instantly and sets about making sure the rules are follows. Until a series of events leads her to question everything she's ever known.

The Mad Womens Ball is an insight into the views of the medical professional at the time towards women - with delightful and realistic characters that are each held for their own reasons.

Whilst it was never going to be a 'nice' book, it definitely gave me pause for thought and led me onto a wikipedia rabbit hole.

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