Asylum

Asylum is a Dzanc Prize for Fiction winner that explores the relationship between a young hysteric and a French neurologist in the 19th century. It delves into medical photography, hypnotic states, and "grand demonstrations" to trace the deterioration of the doctor-patient dynamic.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 10 June 2022
Publisher: Dzanc Books

Winner of the prestigious Dzanc Prize for Fiction, Asylum is a remarkable work of historical fiction that delves into the unsettling and captivating relationship between a young hysteric named Augustine and the renowned nineteenth-century French neurologist J.M. Charcot. As Charcot embarks on a risky endeavor to investigate the controversial disease of hysteria, Augustine grapples with the challenge of making him recognize their mutual dependence and shared desires. However, the arrival of a new lover, M., brings them to the brink of fracture, testing the limits of their relationship.

Drawing upon medical photography, hypnotic states, and the "grand demonstrations" that accompanied Charcot's research, Asylum intricately traces the deterioration of the dynamic between doctor and patient. It explores their transformation from mutually entranced creators to jealous and spurned paramours, fierce rivals, and ultimately bitter enemies. Told in lyrical, feverish, and sometimes delirious prose, Nina Shope weaves a captivating narrative that resonates with the essence of Mary Shelley and Donna Tartt.

Through its vivid portrayal of the medical world and the complex dynamics between individuals, Asylum offers a thought-provoking exploration of power, obsession, and the boundaries of human understanding. It is a testament to Shope's talent as a writer and her ability to create a narrative that is both immersive and intellectually stimulating.

Dimension: 215 x 139 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781950539512