In 1860s London, Arthur sees his wife, Emily, suddenly struck down by a pain for which she can find no words, forced to endure harmful treatments and reliant on him for guidance. Meanwhile, in contemporary Perth, Alice, a writer, and her older husband, Duncan, find their marriage threatened as Alice investigates the history of hysteria, female sexuality and the treatment of the female body – her own and the bodies of those who came before.
"'A masterful exploration of the tangled relationship between body and self; bold and intellectually tough, and intensely lyrical.'"
Lee Kofman
"'Eye of a Rook is raw and intelligent, a searing depiction of the secret journey of female bodies.'"
Donna Mazza
"'Courageous and enthralling … this compassionate, beautifully written book explores important questions about the forces that make us who we are and who we might wish to become.'"
