The Madwoman Upstairs - Softcover

Lowell Catherine

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1501140558 ISBN 13: 9781501140556

Publisher: Simon & Schuster US, 2016

Synopsis

In Catherine Lowell s smart and original debut novel, the only remaining descendant of the Bronte family embarks on a modern-day literary scavenger hunt to find the family s long-rumored secret estate, using only the clues her eccentric father left behind, and the Brontes own novels. Samantha Whipple is used to stirring up speculation wherever she goes. Since her father s untimely death, she is the presumed heir to a long-rumored trove of diaries, paintings, letters, and early novel drafts passed down from the Bronte family a hidden fortune never revealed to anyone outside of the family, but endlessly speculated about by Bronte scholars and fanatics. Samantha, however, has never seen this alleged estate and for all she knows, it s just as fictional as "Jane Eyre" or "Wuthering Heights. " Yet everything changes when Samantha enrolls at Oxford University and long lost objects from the past begin rematerializing in her life. Her father s distinctive copy of "Jane Eyre," which should have perished in the fire that claimed his life, mysteriously appears on Samantha s bed. Annotated in her father s handwriting, the book is the first of many clues in an elaborate scavenger hunt derived from the world s greatest literature. With the help of a handsome but inscrutable professor, Samantha must plunge into a vast literary mystery and an untold family legacy, one that can only be solved by decoding the clues hidden within the Brontes own writing. For readers who devoured "The Weird Sisters "and "Special Topics in Calamity Physics," "The Madwoman Upstairs" is a suspenseful, exhilarating debut by an exciting new talent who offers a moving exploration of what it means when the greatest truth is, in fact, fiction."

About this title

Product Description:

In Catherine Lowell's smart and original debut novel--hailed by Deborah Harkness as a "charming and memorable read"--the last remaining descendant of the Brontė family embarks on a modern-day literary scavenger hunt, using only the clues her eccentric father left behind, and the Brontės' own novels.

Samantha Whipple is used to stirring up speculation wherever she goes. Since her father's untimely death, she is the presumed heir to a long-rumored trove of diaries, paintings, letters, and early novel drafts passed down from the Brontė family--a hidden fortune never revealed to anyone outside of the family, but endlessly speculated about by Brontė scholars and fanatics. Samantha, however, has never seen this alleged estate and for all she knows, it's just as fictional as Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights.

But everything changes when Samantha enrolls at Oxford University and long lost objects from her past begin rematerializing in her life, beginning with an old novel annotated in her father's handwriting. With the help of a handsome but inscrutable professor, Samantha plunges into a vast literary mystery and an untold family legacy, one that can only be solved by repurposing the tools of literature and decoding the clues hidden within the Brontės' own novels.

A fast-paced adventure from start to finish for readers who devoured The Weird Sisters and Special Topics in Calamity Physics, The Madwoman Upstairs is a moving exploration of what happens when the greatest truth is, in fact, fiction.

Review:

"Catherine Lowell's terrific first novel is a mystery, a love story, and a very dark comedy with the Brontės, of all people, playing a role back there in the shadows. The book is about the traces that literature and our ancestors leave in us, and it is about memory as a token of love."--Charles Baxter, author of There's Something I Want You to Do and Feast of Love

"THE MADWOMAN UPSTAIRS had me hooked well into the wee hours; this book is absolutely addictive. Set in the most romantic parts of Britain, the story takes us on a clever present-day romp through the literary universe of the enigmatic Brontes and drills deeply into all their dangerous secrets. Catherine Lowell has such a unique, inspired turn of phrase that you'll find yourself laughing out loud even as she lures you deeper and deeper into this delicious mystery that is destined to become the page-turner of the year."--Anne Fortier, author of Juliet

"Catherine Lowell's debut is a smart and funny literary mystery set among the dreaming spires of Oxford University. Lowell's deft handling of her quirky characters and unpredictable plot twists make The Madwoman Upstairs a charming and memorable read." --Deborah Harkness, author of the All Souls Trilogy

"Smart and surprising and fiercely funny. Catherine Lowell is a thrillingly original talent."---Jennifer DuBois, author of Cartwheel

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster US
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1501140558
• ISBN 13: 9781501140556
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336